I'm about to say something I'm going to be terrible at, but uh, if you get into any accidents this year, a heads up? I'll feel like less of an asshole when I can properly worry on time and not a year later going "how did I not question this sooner?!"
Anyway, from what I'm reading... when are the invitations going out?
Wei-xiong, I didn't want anyone at school to know. It wouldn't have done any good to anyone to worry about that. And don't worry, I'm not planning on a repeat any time soon. I don't think Wenzhou would appreciate it either. These days, if i'm absent, it's because i'm at work, not at the hospital.
... We're not there yet.
[At least, Fei Du is not there yet, even if he is vaguely aware Wenzhou seems to be but is trying not to spook him.]
( he's just pointing it out, okay. coming from the guy on a balcony at another guy's house who he IS NOT EVEN DATING, THANKS, it's rich on several levels )
Are we sure about this. Should I test this. It sounds like something worth testing, or else I could just get your boyfriend's number and send a daily text for a status update--if I'd remember!
It's fine to say years, I'll keep my calendar open~
[Fei Du is being super nice and not pointing this out while you are on the balcony of the guy you're not dating after crashing at his place drunk in the middle of the night and he made you breakfast and he makes you new tea when yours gets cold.]
well, he'll probably find you first, remember? I told you he'd probably come by to talk to you anyway. He's a bit protective like that, he'll want to at least see you.
And besides, it's not as if we could even do it legally here.
[And yet he's pretty sure Wenzhou would do something cheesy like getting him a ring and maybe even a proper proposal, and maybe even a small ceremony for just them and their friends and family and...
Okay if he thinks about this in any more detail he'll work himself up into a panic attack so let's not.]
... It's just weird. I've never really been in a serious relationship before and from what he says... well he hasn't really either. he's dated before but it never got to this point.
I'm actually thinking about whether or not I should even keep my own apartment. I'm not going to sell it, but if i'm not living there anymore i could at least rent it out.
( it's complicated and he's not thinking hard on it for many reasons, most involving low personal self worth and eq, which. well. )
Please just ask that he pick somewhat decent timing, if it's near where I live Jiang Cheng's going to keep locking me out, I really don't need to be bothering Lan Zhan this much. Can't he just. Can we go for coffee. Can I meet your cop boyfriend for coffee so he can vet me over caffeine, that feels the most humane thing here!
( no comment on the legalities, since it's a reality they all know. along with: )
There's that go overseas thing, right? Anyway, that's not a concern, nothing to say, no worries, no thoughts, officially dropped! The teasing will cease for now.
I hate rich people problems. This is a rich people problem! Please, rent out your apartment, you don't need the money but then it's paying for its upkeep. It's more economical than sitting there unoccupied! Spare me the thought of the waste, ah, it's giving me a headache, all that unclaimed space...
Look, I'm quoting my jiejie again, so if it sounds sweet that's the only reason why, but people grow up when they grow up, and you can grow in love like you do anything else. It's not so bad being hitched to one cart for your life, if that's how you love, but here's the me part of the advice: not knowing if you are or aren't is fine too. Worrying about the future, why? Don't end up doing that when the now is a moment you have to live in too.
But seriously. Tell Wenzhou with all my respect, please can we just meet for coffee! I don't need surprise ambushes by police officials. That never goes well! It statistically only goes poorly!
Don't worry, Wei-xiong, he's really a decent person underneath it all.
[Which is exactly why Fei Du frequently freaks out, because he doesn't know that many decent people.]
Fine, fine I'll rent it out!
... Do you need a place of your own, Wei-xiong? Like you said, I don't need the money, so I could set the rent at the same rate you pay now.
[Also your jiejie sounds way too sensible, please let him ignore the part of himself that's just telling him to enjoy this without any intrusive thoughts, he's still having a hard time with this.]
Oh, I'm not worried about him, I'm worried about what people will assume he's waiting for me for! If he puts up with you and gives you as much as you give him, then I'm sure he's fine.
( fine isn't the same as decent, but the point is he's not concerned that wenzhou's an asshole, he's uh. concerned about how badly it would potentially be taken on his end of things. )
Only if your place doesn't come with one of those door guards who gets huffy if you come in at odd hours. When I'm working in the labs I never get out early, would I have to bribe them? I can only charm so many people at a time!
( his jiejie is the best and he'll fight the world on this count, anytime, anywhere. RIGHT NOW! also he isn't following her advice himself because lmf )
Well, he doesn't usually wear a uniform, so I don't think people will be able to tell?
.... he might run your name later to check if you have a record though.
[And Fei Du can't exactly stop him from doing that.]
Wei-xiong, the concierge team in my building is paid a lot of money to not ask questions. I used to come and go all the time and they never batted an eye. As long as you have your card key or your ID, or your fingerprint, you'll be fine.
( He has none, generally speaking, but there's something in having too clean a record too. Not because he's been a criminal mastermind, he hasn't, but there have been attempts in his teen years to get as much pinned on him as possible, and there will always be the question of what, precisely, happened to his adoptive parents.
He's not the rich son, but his record is smoothed by the ones who were. FUN TIMES. )
I have reasons to worry! Look at my track record. But if you say it's so, then why wouldn't I say yes? Let me talk with Jiang Cheng first, though, you know how he gets, and if he thinks I've done something without talking to him he's going to stop talking to me for a year and that just makes my shijie unhappy.
[Watch Wenzhou just point blank tell Wei Wuxian 'Your record is a little too clean for someone who thinks leaving a tied up boyfriend on a doorstep is a good prank idea'.]
Sure, talk it out with your brother, there's no rush. I'll get my personal effects out of the place but i'll leave the furniture.
[He has no special attachment to any of the designer pieces in there. Wenzhou's home doesn't have the space for them anyway, and Fei Du likes the homey feel in his house much better.]
Although I have to ask, does anything ever make your brother happy? Or does he take joy in having his face stuck in a perpetual frown?
( Watch Wei Wuxian smile right back and say isn't that interesting, now. )
Whatever's easiest for you, it's not like I need much. You're sure about that?
( Wei Wuxian has little tie to those kinds of material objects himself. Sentimental pieces, on the other hand, hold him tight. )
These days? Our nephew, Jin Ling. When his family's okay, he's happy, he just likes frowning. Takes after what his mom was like. When he was younger, he really loved dogs, had puppies and everything, but they were rehomed when his father brought me home.
[But then as the second text comes in the phone goes dead on Fei Du's side. For at least an hour.
What can't be seen is that he dropped the phone because his hands started shaking badly. That he couldn't stopped shaking until Wenzhou noticed something was wrong and came over to the couch to hold him and rub his back, and then dragged him into a hot shower because he couldn't seem to warm up.
He's not going to say anything weird because well, it's just unfortunate that he has such a weird trigger. A lot of people like puppies. He used to like puppies too. It's not anyone's fault but his father's if they are now associated with some of the most traumatic memories he has, and that he repressed them for so long it tends to come crashing out at unawares now.
He's only just getting used to being around Luo Yiguo all the time, him and the cat having reached a sort of uneasy truce.
When he picks his phone up again he's wearing sweat pants and one of Wenzhou's hoodies on top of one of his t-shirts, wrapped in his scent.
His fingers shake a little as he types a response.]
Sorry, something came up. Well, I guess he's one of these people who just can't smile sincerely even if they should.
( See, an hour of silence, after this... really unexpected bearing of selves, to whatever degree, does worry him. Not to undue levels, but enough that he gets up, checks his phone too often, pesters Lan Wangji, who takes it in stride and tells him, eventually, to sit.
He sits.
It lasts a few minutes before he's up and twitchy again, not sure he should stay, not sure he wants to go home to face whatever waits for him there. Maybe he'll talk about the offer with Lan Zhan first, test the waters of arguments before he makes it back to his brother and whatever he's going to end up saying, both meant and not. He does start that, is distracted into laughing, and feels the message when it finally comes.
Feels guilty, unsure why. )
Sorry.
( he starts with that. hesitates, then falls in step, more or less. )
Tell me about the something, sometime. As for the rest, he can. It's just rare since his parents passed.
['Tell me about the something, sometime.' How about he doesn't, Wei-xiong? Really, there's no need to.
And ah, of course, Jiang Cheng is also an orphan. let's just drive home all the similarities between him and Fei Du that might have made them friendly and the bring up puppies and make sure that never happens.
Anyway... It's not like it's Wei Wuxian's fault.]
font face=courier>Just let me know when you've decided about the apartment. I'll keep it for you until you give me an answer.
( he feels like it's needed, so he is. anyway, this is apparently a conversation filled with orphans; wei wuxian, fei du, jiang cheng, and even lan wangji, elsewhere in his flat and allowing wei wuxian to linger around before he heads in to the lab in the late afternoon.
wei wuxian will actually head home soon. for now, there's this. )
I'll have an answer for you tonight. Thank you, Fei-xiong. Even if I end up turning it down, thank you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Sorry, i didn't want to worry people back then. I'm not usually that accident prone myself but a lot of things happened last year.
[First he broke his arm in a car accident, then the bomb, and then he was shot in the ankle and half choked to death... it was a time, okay.]
I guess it's real. And his parents like me, so...
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Anyway, from what I'm reading... when are the invitations going out?
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... We're not there yet.
[At least, Fei Du is not there yet, even if he is vaguely aware Wenzhou seems to be but is trying not to spook him.]
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Are we sure about this. Should I test this. It sounds like something worth testing, or else I could just get your boyfriend's number and send a daily text for a status update--if I'd remember!
It's fine to say years, I'll keep my calendar open~
Really though, it's scary, isn't it?
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well, he'll probably find you first, remember? I told you he'd probably come by to talk to you anyway. He's a bit protective like that, he'll want to at least see you.
And besides, it's not as if we could even do it legally here.
[And yet he's pretty sure Wenzhou would do something cheesy like getting him a ring and maybe even a proper proposal, and maybe even a small ceremony for just them and their friends and family and...
Okay if he thinks about this in any more detail he'll work himself up into a panic attack so let's not.]
... It's just weird. I've never really been in a serious relationship before and from what he says... well he hasn't really either. he's dated before but it never got to this point.
I'm actually thinking about whether or not I should even keep my own apartment. I'm not going to sell it, but if i'm not living there anymore i could at least rent it out.
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Please just ask that he pick somewhat decent timing, if it's near where I live Jiang Cheng's going to keep locking me out, I really don't need to be bothering Lan Zhan this much. Can't he just. Can we go for coffee. Can I meet your cop boyfriend for coffee so he can vet me over caffeine, that feels the most humane thing here!
( no comment on the legalities, since it's a reality they all know. along with: )
There's that go overseas thing, right? Anyway, that's not a concern, nothing to say, no worries, no thoughts, officially dropped! The teasing will cease for now.
I hate rich people problems. This is a rich people problem! Please, rent out your apartment, you don't need the money but then it's paying for its upkeep. It's more economical than sitting there unoccupied! Spare me the thought of the waste, ah, it's giving me a headache, all that unclaimed space...
Look, I'm quoting my jiejie again, so if it sounds sweet that's the only reason why, but people grow up when they grow up, and you can grow in love like you do anything else. It's not so bad being hitched to one cart for your life, if that's how you love, but here's the me part of the advice: not knowing if you are or aren't is fine too. Worrying about the future, why? Don't end up doing that when the now is a moment you have to live in too.
But seriously. Tell Wenzhou with all my respect, please can we just meet for coffee! I don't need surprise ambushes by police officials. That never goes well! It statistically only goes poorly!
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Don't worry, Wei-xiong, he's really a decent person underneath it all.
[Which is exactly why Fei Du frequently freaks out, because he doesn't know that many decent people.]
Fine, fine I'll rent it out!
... Do you need a place of your own, Wei-xiong? Like you said, I don't need the money, so I could set the rent at the same rate you pay now.
[Also your jiejie sounds way too sensible, please let him ignore the part of himself that's just telling him to enjoy this without any intrusive thoughts, he's still having a hard time with this.]
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( fine isn't the same as decent, but the point is he's not concerned that wenzhou's an asshole, he's uh. concerned about how badly it would potentially be taken on his end of things. )
Only if your place doesn't come with one of those door guards who gets huffy if you come in at odd hours. When I'm working in the labs I never get out early, would I have to bribe them? I can only charm so many people at a time!
( his jiejie is the best and he'll fight the world on this count, anytime, anywhere. RIGHT NOW! also he isn't following her advice himself because lmf )
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.... he might run your name later to check if you have a record though.
[And Fei Du can't exactly stop him from doing that.]
Wei-xiong, the concierge team in my building is paid a lot of money to not ask questions. I used to come and go all the time and they never batted an eye. As long as you have your card key or your ID, or your fingerprint, you'll be fine.
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( He has none, generally speaking, but there's something in having too clean a record too. Not because he's been a criminal mastermind, he hasn't, but there have been attempts in his teen years to get as much pinned on him as possible, and there will always be the question of what, precisely, happened to his adoptive parents.
He's not the rich son, but his record is smoothed by the ones who were. FUN TIMES. )
I have reasons to worry! Look at my track record. But if you say it's so, then why wouldn't I say yes? Let me talk with Jiang Cheng first, though, you know how he gets, and if he thinks I've done something without talking to him he's going to stop talking to me for a year and that just makes my shijie unhappy.
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Sure, talk it out with your brother, there's no rush. I'll get my personal effects out of the place but i'll leave the furniture.
[He has no special attachment to any of the designer pieces in there. Wenzhou's home doesn't have the space for them anyway, and Fei Du likes the homey feel in his house much better.]
Although I have to ask, does anything ever make your brother happy? Or does he take joy in having his face stuck in a perpetual frown?
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Whatever's easiest for you, it's not like I need much. You're sure about that?
( Wei Wuxian has little tie to those kinds of material objects himself. Sentimental pieces, on the other hand, hold him tight. )
These days? Our nephew, Jin Ling. When his family's okay, he's happy, he just likes frowning. Takes after what his mom was like. When he was younger, he really loved dogs, had puppies and everything, but they were rehomed when his father brought me home.
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[But then as the second text comes in the phone goes dead on Fei Du's side. For at least an hour.
What can't be seen is that he dropped the phone because his hands started shaking badly. That he couldn't stopped shaking until Wenzhou noticed something was wrong and came over to the couch to hold him and rub his back, and then dragged him into a hot shower because he couldn't seem to warm up.
He's not going to say anything weird because well, it's just unfortunate that he has such a weird trigger. A lot of people like puppies. He used to like puppies too. It's not anyone's fault but his father's if they are now associated with some of the most traumatic memories he has, and that he repressed them for so long it tends to come crashing out at unawares now.
He's only just getting used to being around Luo Yiguo all the time, him and the cat having reached a sort of uneasy truce.
When he picks his phone up again he's wearing sweat pants and one of Wenzhou's hoodies on top of one of his t-shirts, wrapped in his scent.
His fingers shake a little as he types a response.]
Sorry, something came up. Well, I guess he's one of these people who just can't smile sincerely even if they should.
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He sits.
It lasts a few minutes before he's up and twitchy again, not sure he should stay, not sure he wants to go home to face whatever waits for him there. Maybe he'll talk about the offer with Lan Zhan first, test the waters of arguments before he makes it back to his brother and whatever he's going to end up saying, both meant and not. He does start that, is distracted into laughing, and feels the message when it finally comes.
Feels guilty, unsure why. )
Sorry.
( he starts with that. hesitates, then falls in step, more or less. )
Tell me about the something, sometime. As for the rest, he can. It's just rare since his parents passed.
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['Tell me about the something, sometime.' How about he doesn't, Wei-xiong? Really, there's no need to.
And ah, of course, Jiang Cheng is also an orphan. let's just drive home all the similarities between him and Fei Du that might have made them friendly and the bring up puppies and make sure that never happens.
Anyway... It's not like it's Wei Wuxian's fault.]
font face=courier>Just let me know when you've decided about the apartment. I'll keep it for you until you give me an answer.
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( he feels like it's needed, so he is. anyway, this is apparently a conversation filled with orphans; wei wuxian, fei du, jiang cheng, and even lan wangji, elsewhere in his flat and allowing wei wuxian to linger around before he heads in to the lab in the late afternoon.
wei wuxian will actually head home soon. for now, there's this. )
I'll have an answer for you tonight. Thank you, Fei-xiong. Even if I end up turning it down, thank you.