shinkunochou

sae! there's going to be another big brother living with us. i wanted to let you know before we got there.

[A NEW CHALLENGER APPEARS?]

Oh? Are you coming now? I’ll go get tea started. Who is he?

that would be a nice welcome, thank you.

his name is wen ning. he's a good friend from home. he's a little different from most people, but he's kind and gentle. you'll have nothing to fear from him.

A little different?

[Gee, weren't they are??]

Is he a Witch or something else? [She really didn't like using the word 'monster.']

he's not really dead.

[...that's not at all a weird way to start.]

he's just...different from other living people. people were either afraid of him or made fun of him. but i know a-sae won't do either, that's why i know he'll be safe there.

he's a witch. i think that's probably a good thing.

[Not really dead? She can't say she fully understands such a thing, except-- Well. She was a little different in that way too, but she didn't really know how it worked between their worlds.]

I won't be afraid. If he's your friend, I'm sure he's nice.

[She shouldn't ask, but--]

How did he die? Or. Almost-die?

[after the jin dinner disaster, he'd promised himself that he'd protect her from as much ugliness of his world as he could. so he tries to think of an easy way to answer that question. but there's no way that wouldn't just leave her with more questions, and the knowledge that big brother hadn't answered wholly or honestly.

why is his world so dramatic.]

there was a war in my world, the wen sect against all others. wen ning was a member of that sect, so when they were defeated, his name was enough to make him evil in the eyes of the others.

he wasn't. he and his sister saved my life. they helped shijie and jiang cheng too, and i owed them. the wens who were allowed to live at all were held in detention and treated poorly. when i came across wen qing in the streets, she said that her brother had been taken away. she feared the worst.

when we found him, i thought he was dead. i realized too late that he wasn't, so when i brought him back to repay those who'd murdered innocents so casually and abused him...he wasn't under my control. a part of the good and gentle wen ning was still in there.

that's why he's different, and why he's not really dead.

[She tries very hard to imagine such a thing. She'd been separated from her sister. Captured. Had Yae searched for her?]

It's similar.

[To her, she means. Except Wen Ning got the better end. No one had come back for her and she'd never seen her sister again.

She tries to decide if she's jealous or hates that, but she can't muster up either emotion. Mostly she just feels sympathetic and a little relieved that at least someone got a better end than she did]

I understand. I'm glad he had people to save him. I'll take care of him too.

I'll get the really good tea out.

[he wishes it wasn't similar. he wishes it was shocking and hard for her to imagine. but this is why he felt that they woud get along from the beginning.]

ahhh looks like i won't be drinking liquor tonight. he'll probably want to make some for you too. and then lan zhan will join and it will never end. i wonder if tea hangovers are a thing.

[EXASPERATED EYE ROLL that he can't see but know that she's doing it!!]

Tea is better for you anyhow! AND it tastes much better!

you sound like lan zhan. but you've never tasted emperor's smile from gusu

I haven't had any alcohol before, really. It never smelled very nice, so I didn't want to taste it either.

what if i made some that smelled as sweet as it tasted. would you want to try it?

Can you do that?

I guess I wouldn't mind then. I'd be curious.

i used to make it back in lotus pier. but this one would be made to sae's tastes. what's your favorite fruit?

[She has to think about it for a moment.]

Strawberries! They're really sweet. I like peaches a lot too.

i will make you the sweetest strawberry wine, i promise!

[and paint stawberries all over the jar while he's at it.]

Okay. Even if it turns out terrible, I'll drink it all, because big brother made it.

The tea is almost ready. Should I just leave it out for you two?

[She's not entirely sure if he wants her to meet Wen Ning right away, or give the guy some time to settle with tea first.]

you have to tell me if it's not good. how else can i make it better if you don't?

don't you want to have tea with us? i'm sure wen ning wouldn't mind.

Well, I suppose that's true.

[Wei Wuxian MAY have a point there.]

Will he really not mind? If he doesn't, then it's alright. I'll drink with you both.

INBOX

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