[ jing yuan startles at the touch, no longer used to such intimacies with people. sure, he has never put up walls between himself and others, but he's kept his distance when it comes to physical touches and close contact. of course, there are a few exceptions such as yanqing, though those have always leaned towards fatherly affection and mentorship. but this—
his surprised gaze meets dan feng's before his expression softens and his eyes avert, tinged with guilt, with sheepishness. ]
Whipping myself over it is an overstatement, High Elder ...
[ once more, he feels like the young cloud knight from centuries ago and not the decorated, esteemed general of the xianzhou, needing to explain himself to his master or the high-cloud for an incident he's involved in. ]
But surely, it's a fathomable sentiment when one's left behind.
[ and just like that, jing yuan is young again, his sweet but mischievous young lion cub lieutenant, but that perhaps is not a bad thing. he deserves the freedom to be someone but the general, anyone but the general, to put that weight down and allow himself to feel things properly again.
he does not remove his hands. ]
It is. I cannot blame you for it.
[ surely it was one of the ways that jing yuan coped, how he sorted his feelings in his mind and heart in order to continue moving forward, but.. that he feels guilt over all that happened - dan feng cannot stand for that. jing yuan has already suffered too much over dan feng's transgressions. ]
Ah Yuan.. you are permitted to grieve, to feel angry, or slighted. To feel pain. Here, with me, you can set your burdens down, and be truthful to me, and to yourself.
[ dan feng's gloved thumb smooths over the crest of jing yuan's cheek. ]
[ to be fair, he's not the general of the luofu in karteria. that title has been shed the moment he's been summoned to this world, disconnected from the xianzhou entirely.
but at the same time, jing yuan thinks it's still very unbecoming of him to lose his composure so easily in front of a man he deeply respected. dan feng has always had that effect on him, whether he was still a budding cloud knight soldier studying under jing liu or a decorated lieutenant working under teng xiao. even after centuries of suppressing his own emotions, his duty first before himself, the high elder easily catches him unawares.
even now, he fights the urge to lean against the hand on his cheek, to curl his fingers into his palm. he fights the urge to turn into the hardheaded, strong-willed boy again that fought with yingxing at every opportunity. ]
Any resentment or grief I might've borne in the aftermath of the Sedition has already been soothed after all these years.
[ tucked away somewhere deep, somewhere no one can unearth and unravel before him. a skill learned from being in a position where raw emotions are often debilitating. ]
Your Jing Yuan has already grown up, High Elder. Throwing tantrums is something I had to move beyond a few years after everyone's ... departure. After all, there's no one else who would indulge me anymore.
[ dan feng's heart squeezes painfully in his chest, the grief within threatening to swallow him whole.
he has done so much damage. so much irrevocable damage. jing yuan had been abandoned in the wake of dan feng's sins, and anything that he is able to offer now.. is far too little, far too late. pain flashes behind dan feng's luminous eyes for a moment before he swallows it down; he will not burden jing yuan any further than he already has. is there no way to get through to him? no way to make him understand? ]
.. feeling your emotions is not throwing a tantrum, Jing Yuan. You should be wise enough by now to understand the difference.
[ it was the quintet who taught dan feng this valuable lesson to begin with, the first people in his life who allowed him to be himself, to feel his feelings, to be a person. he withdraws his hands at last, heart aching, heavy as a stone in his chest. jing yuan has chosen to keep him at arms' length, to build a wall between them, and that, he supposes, is.. just as well. surely it is what dan feng deserves. it is foolish to think that he could reconnect after so thoroughly destroying everything that they loved. ]
I am sorry. Sorry for everything. [ he says softly, making to stand again. ] But apologies are as a breath in a hurricane. I will not inconvenience you any longer.
[ that wasn't what he meant, but it's clear that there's a disconnect between them now, between the words they speak and the thoughts they want to convey.
this isn't how jing yuan imagined their reunion to be, though to be fair, he's never imagined their reunion at all. dan heng's return to the luofu is one thing; that has elio's strings wrapped around it like marionette, each scenario carefully crafted to allow the young vidyadhara to awaken his powers. but this is different, this has caught him by surprise that his instinct is to keep everything close to his chest until he's figured it all out.
his expression falls when dan feng, misunderstanding him, draws away, a strong instinctive tug pushing his hand to reach out. fingers curl around the hem of the vidyadhara's sleeve, almost like a lost child seeking guidance. ]
You have nothing to apologize for, High Elder. I have never once blamed you for making the choice anyone would've made in their grief and despair.
[ baiheng's loss was devastating to all of them, but more so to those who loved and cherished her deeply, who held her close to their hearts. it's a very human instinct to bargain for her return, even if it went against every logic and belief of the xianzhou, even if it had disastrous consequences.
it's one of the foundations of the sanctus despite what everyone says. ]
You too were suffering, something in my youth I could not ease or soothe. We all loved Baiheng, but no one cherished her more deeply than Master, Yingxing and you.
[ genuine surprise flickers across his face when jing yuan snags his sleeve, and dan feng's brow tightens, his eyes searching. he pauses, listens, and for a moment he is quiet before he settles himself down again, on the cushion beside jing yuan. a little thread of warm relief runs through him, though it brings guilt along with it, like a stone tied heavily to its end - he does not deserve jing yuan's kindness, his closeness, dan feng had only wanted him to understand how sorry he is, and that it's all right for him to be angry.
selfishly, he wants more. he wants to hold him, to run his fingers through jing yuan's hair and soothe his pains, to feel loved by him again. ah, even now, he is a covetous creature. ]
.. I am glad to see that Ah Yuan has kept the kindness in his heart.
[ he says softly, settling his hands into his lap again, staring down at them for a moment before summoning the courage to look up toward him once more, meeting his eyes. ]
Of course you never blamed me, even if you should have, but I..
[ his brow tightens. ]
.. my grief is no excuse.
[ he had desecrated baiheng's spirit and memory, had brought about the massacre of his own people, something for which he can never forgive himself. jing yuan may excuse him, but what of the angry dead? the lives lost? changed? the waves of grief that rippled out from the epicenter of his despair? ]
[ the same human that every single one of them in the quintet saw. dan feng wasn't simply the unfeeling and aloof high elder of the vidyadhara, praised and revered for his power and wisdom. he, too, bore a heart that's weighed down by his duty, his love for his own people.
and it's that understanding why jing yuan has never blamed him for his choices, never once questioned him for his reasons. ]
Driven by love and compassion, you made a choice that you thought was the best for everyone in your own way. You tried your best, Feng-ge.
[ even if, in the end, they all became victims of a tragic fate. perhaps it was inevitable; stars like them that burn bright will eventually fall, fire streaking across the sky until it disintegrates.
only he was left to pick up the pieces, to mourn every single one of them. ]
I didn't invite you here so that you might comfort me.
[ he says quietly. dan feng wants to take jing yuan's hand again, but he refrains this time; he's already lost enough of his composure already. perhaps he has gotten through to jing yuan at least a little bit - he's just going to have to be satisfied with that. ]
While I may have had my reasons, I..
[ it still ended in disaster, and death. his people, the people that he was meant to protect, to guide - slaughtered, hundreds of them, by his arrogance and inability to control his despair. that is simply not something that he can forgive himself for. dan feng pulls in a deep breath. ]
Nevertheless, I am glad to be able to see you again. You have grown into a fine man, Jing Yuan.
[ jing yuan wants to argue that no one could've known. no one could've predicted that it would turn tragic, that hundreds of lives would be lost to a misguided, hubristic choice, that the entirety of the luofu would be upended, and he would lose everyone he loved in the process. but the words fail him because he knew.
he knew and didn't say anything about it. didn't do anything at all. which is why he also couldn't blame dan feng, couldn't blame the choices he made. ]
High Elder, you invited me here so I could find peace and respite from my own feelings from seven hundred years ago. But I can see that you also need that peace and respite, even more so than I.
[ it also makes him happy to see dan feng again, their parting having left lingering fractures on his heart that he's only barely cauterized to keep it from hurting. seeing him here, able to speak to him, even if much of their time in karteria had been spent apart, soothes him in some way. ]
I may not be Yingxing or my master, but I would gladly listen to your troubles.
You say that as if you are lesser than they are, in some way.
[ but jing yuan has always felt that way, hasn't he? he had been so young then, he must have always felt as if he had to earn his place in the quintet more than the others had. he speaks as if his meaning to them was somehow lesser. in the end, all he can do is shake his head. ]
Nevertheless.. I cannot in good conscience burden you with anything further than I already have.
between the high elder of the vidyadhara, the sword champion of the xianzhou luofu, the luofu's furnace master and a member of the nameless, he was a simple soldier, someone jingliu picked up and fostered under her wing. compared to their feats, his were ordinary, nothing to write home about.
and so, despite being a member of the high-cloud quintet, there's a part of him that felt like an outsider. someone whose place only existed because of his connection to jingliu.
but jing yuan says nothing more about that, folding his hands on his lap, knowing the kind of can of space worms that would open. he simply smiles and nods, ready to get up from his seat. ]
[ he wants to argue that jing yuan is his guest, that he does not need to concern himself with preparing tea - it's not as if it's an arduous task - but he's too tired to argue any further, and can guess easily enough that jing yuan would still insist.
so dan feng nods, unfolding himself from his seat to stand again. ]
We will do it together.
[ plucking up the box of tea that jing yuan brought, dan feng disappears into the tiny kitchen. ]
[ dan feng doesn't need to say anything out loud, but jing yuan can sense his reluctance in the offer, only offset by exhaustion. for a moment, he briefly considers taking it back and simply remaining in his seat like an obedient guest, letting the vidyadhara prepare tea by himself. it's ... certainly a side of dan feng he's never once seen before, at least never when he still indulged him so long ago.
right now, he's no longer the young cloud knight lieutenant who once clamored for his attention, appealed for his affection. he's the man who read his sentence, who watched helplessly as he was forced back into his egg.
jing yuan trails after dan feng into the kitchen, careful to maintain proper distance from the once-high elder. it's tiny and cramped, very much unlike his old residence on the luofu. ]
I'll fetch the cups, High Elder.
[ it'll keep him busy too, searching through his cupboards for the elusive teacups. ]
[ dan fend is certainly proud of the man that jing yuan has become - strong and dedicated, still kind and warm - but in truth, he misses the little lion cub that he once was. jing yuan is almost too strong, shouldering far too much weight, so much so that he cannot even allow himself the weakness of admitting that he might still be hurting. might still be mourning.
perhaps in attempting to convince dan heng, he is also bolstering himself, but of course.. everyone must grow up, someday. dan feng only wishes that he had not forced it.
tail flicking behind him, dan feng begins to prepare the water. ]
[ jing yuan pauses from his search to glance at the vidyadhara, trying to recall the tea in the box. ]
Nothing specific, I would recommend that you select one blindly and see if it's to your taste.
[ this is now a game of russian roulette with tea, something that might have earned him a tap upside the head from jingliu. but most of the flavors in the box are nondescript, nothing too bizarre that would put off the high elder and his tastebuds.
at the very least, he might find it unusual, not at all like the tea they had in the luofu. jing yuan sets down the teacups and fetches a small tray. ]
[ there's no reason not to. it's not as if jing yuan would purposefully bring him anything revolting, so, why not? while the water heats, dan feng picks through the box, frowning thoughtfully down at the little jars full of leaves, eventually selecting one and opening the lid to give it a sniff.
hmm. not absolutely horrible. there's a fruity sort of scent to it, fragrant but mild. he fills the teapot with a scattering of leaves. ]
Ah, yes. Little things, such as working at the cafe.
[ something to keep himself busy and earn money. it's clear that this world doesn't intend to support them, even if they were summoned here to deal with their troubles supposedly. their hosts, while they're in need of their help, trust them very little, an understandable sentiment.
still, jing yuan doesn't mind, the experience of working in customer service very different from what he's used to. if anything, it takes him back to the days when he still served as a soldier, needing to interact with the populace. ]
And you, High Elder?
[ he wonders what dan feng has been up to since their last conversation. ]
[ working at the cafe.. ah, how strange times have become. it's almost cute, imagining jing yuan in a little apron, preparing teas and coffees. ]
I should visit while you are working, sometime.
[ he wants to see barista kitten..
once the water is the correct temperature, dan feng carefully pours it into the teapot, then gently places on the lid and lifts it, carrying it to set it on the tray that jing yuan has prepared. ]
I have been.. managing well enough, I suppose. Taking jobs where I can, though nothing stable as of yet.
You're welcome to come by the cafe, High Elder, though I worry the coffee and tea we serve might not be to your discerning taste.
[ he can't really say that karteria is thriving, but it's certainly managing despite the situation. still, it's not as prosperous as the luofu and dan feng, having lived in privilege for so long until the sedition, has always had very cultured preferences. or has it changed since they've arrived in this place?
jing yuan trails after the vidyadhara back to the living area, waiting for dan feng to settle back down before he follows suit. ]
... Have you considered becoming a healer again? With the current circumstances, your expertise with medicine and healing may be necessary.
It's all right, I have visited the cafe before. It was.. fine.
[ not excellent, or up to the quality that he had grown accustomed to, but what can he expect? besides, it's been centuries since last he tasted fine tea. he's grateful not to be in that terrible prison any longer to begin with, he won't complain about the tea.
well. maybe he will a little. perhaps he should look into growing his own leaves.. hmm. as for jing yuan's suggestion, dan feng considers it as he sets the tea tray down on the table. he settles down comfortably again. ]
Hm. My healing is.. not quite so strong as it once was, but I suppose that is still better than nothing. [ he's not a god anymore, yuan'er. :( ] That is not a terrible idea.
[ he did? jing yuan wonders when it was, why he's never seen him. perhaps the high elder visited during times he wasn't in, missing him altogether. ]
Your healing abilities aside, you also possess extensive knowledge in medicine and medical practices, High Elder.
[ the alchemy commission may have been rooted in seeking the divine medicine for immortality and had been learning towards more biological research, but one can't deny that medical knowledge and practices remain modern and technologically advanced, compared to many civilizations. after all, their healers have been effective enough to send soldiers back to war, even if many doctors advised against it.
even more so dan feng, who once maintained an influential position in the alchemy commission as the vidyadhara's high elder. ]
[ though his cloudhymn abilities may be limited here, his mind is a wealth of information. he doesn't know how much he would have access too here, in terms of medicinal plants and other workable items, but that shouldn't stop him. he can always research what is. after all, what does he have but time?
so dan feng nods, and lifts the teapot to carefully pour for them both. ]
Thank you. I will consider it. [ and then, pushing jing yuan's cup toward him - ] Will you stay with the cafe, or is it merely a jumping off point?
[ staying at the cafe is certainly a more relaxing occupation compared to his time as the luofu's arbiter-general. but he knows that he's more than capable of taking on more responsibilities, even assuming a leadership position in the community. still, there are others who are more than willing to step up to the mantle, and jing yuan is happy to take a step back.
the centuries he's spent as the divine foresight is an exhausting lesson learned already. ]
Returning to duties that bear similarities to those I used to have in the Luofu isn't very tempting at the moment.
[ this is the one break he's always wanted, never mind that his thoughts sometimes trail back to the xianzhou, worries about yanqing, fu xuan and the people he's left behind lingering on the forefront of his mind. ]
[ that's not a bad thing, he thinks. jing yuan has worked very hard for a very long time, he deserves to be able to retire to something gentler, to not have to worry so much about anything but serving his next cup of coffee.
dan feng lifts his teacup, takes a sip. ]
I think that's good. Being a General is an exceedingly heavy burden, and comes with a great deal of work. You've earned this time off.
[ the high elder isn't wrong. he did earn this time off, his very first one in a long, long while. despite this, it doesn't seem as if he's left the luofu at all, finding himself thinking about his responsibilities and the people left behind to assume them, the unresolved problems he's yet to find answers to, the impending conflict that often surrounds the xianzhou.
and yet, jing yuan simply smiles as his fingers curl around his tea cup, its warmth soothing against his skin. ]
General Teng Xiao didn't seem this busy when I was still lieutenant.
[ the man was certainly more inclined towards the brawnier side of being the hunt's vanguard, almost at par with the yaoqing's general. and yet, it feels as if all his work was dumped onto his desk the moment he assumed power.
not that jing yuan blames his commanding officer back then. he knows why anyone would be elsewhere except the seat of divine foresight. ]
Had I known, I would've gleaned his secrets on living carefree.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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his surprised gaze meets dan feng's before his expression softens and his eyes avert, tinged with guilt, with sheepishness. ]
Whipping myself over it is an overstatement, High Elder ...
[ once more, he feels like the young cloud knight from centuries ago and not the decorated, esteemed general of the xianzhou, needing to explain himself to his master or the high-cloud for an incident he's involved in. ]
But surely, it's a fathomable sentiment when one's left behind.
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he does not remove his hands. ]
It is. I cannot blame you for it.
[ surely it was one of the ways that jing yuan coped, how he sorted his feelings in his mind and heart in order to continue moving forward, but.. that he feels guilt over all that happened - dan feng cannot stand for that. jing yuan has already suffered too much over dan feng's transgressions. ]
Ah Yuan.. you are permitted to grieve, to feel angry, or slighted. To feel pain. Here, with me, you can set your burdens down, and be truthful to me, and to yourself.
[ dan feng's gloved thumb smooths over the crest of jing yuan's cheek. ]
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but at the same time, jing yuan thinks it's still very unbecoming of him to lose his composure so easily in front of a man he deeply respected. dan feng has always had that effect on him, whether he was still a budding cloud knight soldier studying under jing liu or a decorated lieutenant working under teng xiao. even after centuries of suppressing his own emotions, his duty first before himself, the high elder easily catches him unawares.
even now, he fights the urge to lean against the hand on his cheek, to curl his fingers into his palm. he fights the urge to turn into the hardheaded, strong-willed boy again that fought with yingxing at every opportunity. ]
Any resentment or grief I might've borne in the aftermath of the Sedition has already been soothed after all these years.
[ tucked away somewhere deep, somewhere no one can unearth and unravel before him. a skill learned from being in a position where raw emotions are often debilitating. ]
Your Jing Yuan has already grown up, High Elder. Throwing tantrums is something I had to move beyond a few years after everyone's ... departure. After all, there's no one else who would indulge me anymore.
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he has done so much damage. so much irrevocable damage. jing yuan had been abandoned in the wake of dan feng's sins, and anything that he is able to offer now.. is far too little, far too late. pain flashes behind dan feng's luminous eyes for a moment before he swallows it down; he will not burden jing yuan any further than he already has. is there no way to get through to him? no way to make him understand? ]
.. feeling your emotions is not throwing a tantrum, Jing Yuan. You should be wise enough by now to understand the difference.
[ it was the quintet who taught dan feng this valuable lesson to begin with, the first people in his life who allowed him to be himself, to feel his feelings, to be a person. he withdraws his hands at last, heart aching, heavy as a stone in his chest. jing yuan has chosen to keep him at arms' length, to build a wall between them, and that, he supposes, is.. just as well. surely it is what dan feng deserves. it is foolish to think that he could reconnect after so thoroughly destroying everything that they loved. ]
I am sorry. Sorry for everything. [ he says softly, making to stand again. ] But apologies are as a breath in a hurricane. I will not inconvenience you any longer.
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this isn't how jing yuan imagined their reunion to be, though to be fair, he's never imagined their reunion at all. dan heng's return to the luofu is one thing; that has elio's strings wrapped around it like marionette, each scenario carefully crafted to allow the young vidyadhara to awaken his powers. but this is different, this has caught him by surprise that his instinct is to keep everything close to his chest until he's figured it all out.
his expression falls when dan feng, misunderstanding him, draws away, a strong instinctive tug pushing his hand to reach out. fingers curl around the hem of the vidyadhara's sleeve, almost like a lost child seeking guidance. ]
You have nothing to apologize for, High Elder. I have never once blamed you for making the choice anyone would've made in their grief and despair.
[ baiheng's loss was devastating to all of them, but more so to those who loved and cherished her deeply, who held her close to their hearts. it's a very human instinct to bargain for her return, even if it went against every logic and belief of the xianzhou, even if it had disastrous consequences.
it's one of the foundations of the sanctus despite what everyone says. ]
You too were suffering, something in my youth I could not ease or soothe. We all loved Baiheng, but no one cherished her more deeply than Master, Yingxing and you.
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selfishly, he wants more. he wants to hold him, to run his fingers through jing yuan's hair and soothe his pains, to feel loved by him again. ah, even now, he is a covetous creature. ]
.. I am glad to see that Ah Yuan has kept the kindness in his heart.
[ he says softly, settling his hands into his lap again, staring down at them for a moment before summoning the courage to look up toward him once more, meeting his eyes. ]
Of course you never blamed me, even if you should have, but I..
[ his brow tightens. ]
.. my grief is no excuse.
[ he had desecrated baiheng's spirit and memory, had brought about the massacre of his own people, something for which he can never forgive himself. jing yuan may excuse him, but what of the angry dead? the lives lost? changed? the waves of grief that rippled out from the epicenter of his despair? ]
Still. I miss her even now.
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[ the same human that every single one of them in the quintet saw. dan feng wasn't simply the unfeeling and aloof high elder of the vidyadhara, praised and revered for his power and wisdom. he, too, bore a heart that's weighed down by his duty, his love for his own people.
and it's that understanding why jing yuan has never blamed him for his choices, never once questioned him for his reasons. ]
Driven by love and compassion, you made a choice that you thought was the best for everyone in your own way. You tried your best, Feng-ge.
[ even if, in the end, they all became victims of a tragic fate. perhaps it was inevitable; stars like them that burn bright will eventually fall, fire streaking across the sky until it disintegrates.
only he was left to pick up the pieces, to mourn every single one of them. ]
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I didn't invite you here so that you might comfort me.
[ he says quietly. dan feng wants to take jing yuan's hand again, but he refrains this time; he's already lost enough of his composure already. perhaps he has gotten through to jing yuan at least a little bit - he's just going to have to be satisfied with that. ]
While I may have had my reasons, I..
[ it still ended in disaster, and death. his people, the people that he was meant to protect, to guide - slaughtered, hundreds of them, by his arrogance and inability to control his despair. that is simply not something that he can forgive himself for. dan feng pulls in a deep breath. ]
Nevertheless, I am glad to be able to see you again. You have grown into a fine man, Jing Yuan.
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he knew and didn't say anything about it. didn't do anything at all. which is why he also couldn't blame dan feng, couldn't blame the choices he made. ]
High Elder, you invited me here so I could find peace and respite from my own feelings from seven hundred years ago. But I can see that you also need that peace and respite, even more so than I.
[ it also makes him happy to see dan feng again, their parting having left lingering fractures on his heart that he's only barely cauterized to keep it from hurting. seeing him here, able to speak to him, even if much of their time in karteria had been spent apart, soothes him in some way. ]
I may not be Yingxing or my master, but I would gladly listen to your troubles.
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You say that as if you are lesser than they are, in some way.
[ but jing yuan has always felt that way, hasn't he? he had been so young then, he must have always felt as if he had to earn his place in the quintet more than the others had. he speaks as if his meaning to them was somehow lesser. in the end, all he can do is shake his head. ]
Nevertheless.. I cannot in good conscience burden you with anything further than I already have.
[ jing yuan has borne enough on his behalf. ]
I suppose it is time that I prepare that tea.
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between the high elder of the vidyadhara, the sword champion of the xianzhou luofu, the luofu's furnace master and a member of the nameless, he was a simple soldier, someone jingliu picked up and fostered under her wing. compared to their feats, his were ordinary, nothing to write home about.
and so, despite being a member of the high-cloud quintet, there's a part of him that felt like an outsider. someone whose place only existed because of his connection to jingliu.
but jing yuan says nothing more about that, folding his hands on his lap, knowing the kind of can of space worms that would open. he simply smiles and nods, ready to get up from his seat. ]
Let me help you, High Elder.
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[ he wants to argue that jing yuan is his guest, that he does not need to concern himself with preparing tea - it's not as if it's an arduous task - but he's too tired to argue any further, and can guess easily enough that jing yuan would still insist.
so dan feng nods, unfolding himself from his seat to stand again. ]
We will do it together.
[ plucking up the box of tea that jing yuan brought, dan feng disappears into the tiny kitchen. ]
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right now, he's no longer the young cloud knight lieutenant who once clamored for his attention, appealed for his affection. he's the man who read his sentence, who watched helplessly as he was forced back into his egg.
jing yuan trails after dan feng into the kitchen, careful to maintain proper distance from the once-high elder. it's tiny and cramped, very much unlike his old residence on the luofu. ]
I'll fetch the cups, High Elder.
[ it'll keep him busy too, searching through his cupboards for the elusive teacups. ]
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perhaps in attempting to convince dan heng, he is also bolstering himself, but of course.. everyone must grow up, someday. dan feng only wishes that he had not forced it.
tail flicking behind him, dan feng begins to prepare the water. ]
Which tea do you suggest?
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Nothing specific, I would recommend that you select one blindly and see if it's to your taste.
[ this is now a game of russian roulette with tea, something that might have earned him a tap upside the head from jingliu. but most of the flavors in the box are nondescript, nothing too bizarre that would put off the high elder and his tastebuds.
at the very least, he might find it unusual, not at all like the tea they had in the luofu. jing yuan sets down the teacups and fetches a small tray. ]
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[ there's no reason not to. it's not as if jing yuan would purposefully bring him anything revolting, so, why not? while the water heats, dan feng picks through the box, frowning thoughtfully down at the little jars full of leaves, eventually selecting one and opening the lid to give it a sniff.
hmm. not absolutely horrible. there's a fruity sort of scent to it, fragrant but mild. he fills the teapot with a scattering of leaves. ]
Tell me, Ah Yuan - have you been keeping busy?
[ he's missed his kitten. :( ]
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[ something to keep himself busy and earn money. it's clear that this world doesn't intend to support them, even if they were summoned here to deal with their troubles supposedly. their hosts, while they're in need of their help, trust them very little, an understandable sentiment.
still, jing yuan doesn't mind, the experience of working in customer service very different from what he's used to. if anything, it takes him back to the days when he still served as a soldier, needing to interact with the populace. ]
And you, High Elder?
[ he wonders what dan feng has been up to since their last conversation. ]
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I should visit while you are working, sometime.
[ he wants to see barista kitten..
once the water is the correct temperature, dan feng carefully pours it into the teapot, then gently places on the lid and lifts it, carrying it to set it on the tray that jing yuan has prepared. ]
I have been.. managing well enough, I suppose. Taking jobs where I can, though nothing stable as of yet.
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You're welcome to come by the cafe, High Elder, though I worry the coffee and tea we serve might not be to your discerning taste.
[ he can't really say that karteria is thriving, but it's certainly managing despite the situation. still, it's not as prosperous as the luofu and dan feng, having lived in privilege for so long until the sedition, has always had very cultured preferences. or has it changed since they've arrived in this place?
jing yuan trails after the vidyadhara back to the living area, waiting for dan feng to settle back down before he follows suit. ]
... Have you considered becoming a healer again? With the current circumstances, your expertise with medicine and healing may be necessary.
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[ not excellent, or up to the quality that he had grown accustomed to, but what can he expect? besides, it's been centuries since last he tasted fine tea. he's grateful not to be in that terrible prison any longer to begin with, he won't complain about the tea.
well. maybe he will a little. perhaps he should look into growing his own leaves.. hmm. as for jing yuan's suggestion, dan feng considers it as he sets the tea tray down on the table. he settles down comfortably again. ]
Hm. My healing is.. not quite so strong as it once was, but I suppose that is still better than nothing. [ he's not a god anymore, yuan'er. :( ] That is not a terrible idea.
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Your healing abilities aside, you also possess extensive knowledge in medicine and medical practices, High Elder.
[ the alchemy commission may have been rooted in seeking the divine medicine for immortality and had been learning towards more biological research, but one can't deny that medical knowledge and practices remain modern and technologically advanced, compared to many civilizations. after all, their healers have been effective enough to send soldiers back to war, even if many doctors advised against it.
even more so dan feng, who once maintained an influential position in the alchemy commission as the vidyadhara's high elder. ]
I'm sure many would see it as valuable resource.
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[ though his cloudhymn abilities may be limited here, his mind is a wealth of information. he doesn't know how much he would have access too here, in terms of medicinal plants and other workable items, but that shouldn't stop him. he can always research what is. after all, what does he have but time?
so dan feng nods, and lifts the teapot to carefully pour for them both. ]
Thank you. I will consider it. [ and then, pushing jing yuan's cup toward him - ] Will you stay with the cafe, or is it merely a jumping off point?
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[ staying at the cafe is certainly a more relaxing occupation compared to his time as the luofu's arbiter-general. but he knows that he's more than capable of taking on more responsibilities, even assuming a leadership position in the community. still, there are others who are more than willing to step up to the mantle, and jing yuan is happy to take a step back.
the centuries he's spent as the divine foresight is an exhausting lesson learned already. ]
Returning to duties that bear similarities to those I used to have in the Luofu isn't very tempting at the moment.
[ this is the one break he's always wanted, never mind that his thoughts sometimes trail back to the xianzhou, worries about yanqing, fu xuan and the people he's left behind lingering on the forefront of his mind. ]
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I see.
[ that's not a bad thing, he thinks. jing yuan has worked very hard for a very long time, he deserves to be able to retire to something gentler, to not have to worry so much about anything but serving his next cup of coffee.
dan feng lifts his teacup, takes a sip. ]
I think that's good. Being a General is an exceedingly heavy burden, and comes with a great deal of work. You've earned this time off.
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and yet, jing yuan simply smiles as his fingers curl around his tea cup, its warmth soothing against his skin. ]
General Teng Xiao didn't seem this busy when I was still lieutenant.
[ the man was certainly more inclined towards the brawnier side of being the hunt's vanguard, almost at par with the yaoqing's general. and yet, it feels as if all his work was dumped onto his desk the moment he assumed power.
not that jing yuan blames his commanding officer back then. he knows why anyone would be elsewhere except the seat of divine foresight. ]
Had I known, I would've gleaned his secrets on living carefree.
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