[ He glances at the bowls as they're placed in front of them, already anticipating Wei Ying's assault on his own helping of healthful ingredients. The envoy of tofu and radishes is met with thanks as Lan Zhan begins to pick out a few choice morsels to replenish the diminished contents of Wei Ying's bowl: a few quarters of potato, several slices of carrot, and a scattering of snow peas. The exchange completed, he sets down his spoon to reach into the qiankun bag sitting against his hip. With only a moment's delay, his hand reappears holding a small red pouch which he offers to Wei Ying. Inside, secreted away for just such an occasion, is a pile of finely-ground red chili. ]
I took a week of leave. [ All of the meetings and paperwork piling up in that time would surely lead to minor quantities of regret, but that was for Lan Zhan to form headaches over in the future. There was nothing to regret about meeting Wei Ying when bidden, his company more priceless than any amount of time Lan Zhan will be forced to pay back in double. Wei Ying's currency is kisses and glances and tasteless vegetables, and Lan Zhan is grateful for such charity.
Humming, he stirs the contents of his bowl and watches it swirl together, blurring as his eyes unfocus slightly. Could he honestly say he enjoys the work? There lies a conundrum of whether valuable work is ever enjoyable. He doesn't enjoy listening to the droning of lords who value their words more than the Chief Cultivator's time, nor does he enjoy the petty squabbles he must mediate between. There is surprisingly little cultivation work to be done as he has to delegate requested aid and send disciples on night hunts when he wishes to go himself. There are times when Lan Zhan doubts that he is meant for the task, too honest to bother with the sly politicians he finds himself at court with. He has come to understand something of the grace to Jin Guangyao's manipulations simply due to the fact that he could never achieve such a wide and wicked web of influence. ]
I do not rule. [ He sips at his tea, nose wrinkling almost imperceptibly at the stale taste of the leaves. The cup is set down almost immediately. ] I guide.
[ He suppresses a flinch at the word. Lonely. It is an ironic companion in his life, one that he has been reunited with countless times. A lonely child who found comfort in fleeting visits with his mother. A lonely student who sought companionship in books. A lonely cultivator whose life was flung into chaos by a friend he hadn't expected to make nor endeavored to keep. A lonely soldier searching for that lost friend. A lonely man with no clue of how to raise a child.
Swallowing thickly, he takes up his soup in hopes of wetting his lips and easing his tongue. ] It is lonely but honorable work. I wish for someone to share what free time I have.
no subject
[ He glances at the bowls as they're placed in front of them, already anticipating Wei Ying's assault on his own helping of healthful ingredients. The envoy of tofu and radishes is met with thanks as Lan Zhan begins to pick out a few choice morsels to replenish the diminished contents of Wei Ying's bowl: a few quarters of potato, several slices of carrot, and a scattering of snow peas. The exchange completed, he sets down his spoon to reach into the qiankun bag sitting against his hip. With only a moment's delay, his hand reappears holding a small red pouch which he offers to Wei Ying. Inside, secreted away for just such an occasion, is a pile of finely-ground red chili. ]
I took a week of leave. [ All of the meetings and paperwork piling up in that time would surely lead to minor quantities of regret, but that was for Lan Zhan to form headaches over in the future. There was nothing to regret about meeting Wei Ying when bidden, his company more priceless than any amount of time Lan Zhan will be forced to pay back in double. Wei Ying's currency is kisses and glances and tasteless vegetables, and Lan Zhan is grateful for such charity.
Humming, he stirs the contents of his bowl and watches it swirl together, blurring as his eyes unfocus slightly. Could he honestly say he enjoys the work? There lies a conundrum of whether valuable work is ever enjoyable. He doesn't enjoy listening to the droning of lords who value their words more than the Chief Cultivator's time, nor does he enjoy the petty squabbles he must mediate between. There is surprisingly little cultivation work to be done as he has to delegate requested aid and send disciples on night hunts when he wishes to go himself. There are times when Lan Zhan doubts that he is meant for the task, too honest to bother with the sly politicians he finds himself at court with. He has come to understand something of the grace to Jin Guangyao's manipulations simply due to the fact that he could never achieve such a wide and wicked web of influence. ]
I do not rule. [ He sips at his tea, nose wrinkling almost imperceptibly at the stale taste of the leaves. The cup is set down almost immediately. ] I guide.
[ He suppresses a flinch at the word. Lonely. It is an ironic companion in his life, one that he has been reunited with countless times. A lonely child who found comfort in fleeting visits with his mother. A lonely student who sought companionship in books. A lonely cultivator whose life was flung into chaos by a friend he hadn't expected to make nor endeavored to keep. A lonely soldier searching for that lost friend. A lonely man with no clue of how to raise a child.
Swallowing thickly, he takes up his soup in hopes of wetting his lips and easing his tongue. ] It is lonely but honorable work. I wish for someone to share what free time I have.