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[goldenrepair]

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"It better be important."

JIANG CHENG
RULER'S CLASS
fragments ✧✧✧✧✧

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[crudest]

[BACK TO THE KOI POND THEY GO - that said, they are going through the back entrance! there's a staircase that immediately leads up instead of out into the rest of the bar, because they're about to take a trip to the attic which is...

quite nice, actually.

it looks more like a very efficient loft space as baren's managed to put a lot of amenities in there. there's a desk, a stack of papers, a rack of clothing, his spacious bed off to the side, and there's not a speck of dust to be found anywhere! as they head up, baren will turn on a few lanterns to neatly illuminate the space, filling it with a warm glow. a few luxurious items are placed for decoration, remnants from his xian le days that he can't quite let go of.

but he's actually stopping by the desk to pick up a box first before nudging jiang cheng in the direction of a rather nice armchair]

Sit. Bleed on anything and you have to buy me a new one.

[goldenrepair]

[Listen, that big fuck just caught him off-guard! He didn't think someone was going to try to make a dishonest mess of shit, but he should have known better with Baren involved. He had a good round regardless despite losing anyway.

Keeping his arm and wrist stiff without yanking, he follows Baren into the back like some kind of common criminal hooligan, up the stairs--

He realizes now just why Wei Wuxian's stupid apartment is clean for maybe a day from time to time. It's very Baren(tm). Of course, his dark eyes roam around to look everything over curiously, though he shuffles after Baren when he's dragged here and there.]

Get us out of this thing first. [He hates it. He also sits, but he says:] I could just go to Shinobu.

action

[ittoryu]

[hello and i'm sorry

shigure's just dropping by wherever jiang cheng is.]

The ear's from a Xian Le, apparently. Sender said it was a private matter, but they thought it should at least be returned to the family.

[goldenrepair]

[I'M LOSING IT

Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, is also LOSING IT. He can't believe he was given a goddamn Xian Le ear.]

What? Which family?

action.

[unfriendliest]

[ sometime between mail deliveries and the date auction, kara heads over to say hi. he probably shouldn't, all things considered, but. maybe he just thinks the cast on his arm and bandages will be answer enough for jc.

as usual, he doesn't offer a greeting. he just gets straight to the point. ]

You think they're going to try something tonight.

[goldenrepair]

[Inwardly, he closes his eyes at Kara's condition. Jesus. On the outside, he sort of just appraises Kara sourly.]

They would be idiots to try, but I won't say they wouldn't. [He's still sour grapes.] Will you be able to do anything like that? [He's not doubting Kara's skill, he's just....!! Listen.]

[doublesmall]

[So, about that mail!

Chuuya isn't going to keep the dog, he isn't here to start more problems between their families... so he brings Peanut to the same spot just outside the city wall, letting him and Marshmallow run around and play together while he waits to see if Jiang Cheng will appear. They're just zooming around, with Chuuya perched nearby because he likes to feel tall.]

[goldenrepair]

[Jiang Cheng shows up because he loves his dogs, and he ain't about some Mori head get the better of him by twisting his words around!! SO YEAH!

Before long, he's bending through the stupid hole in the wall to come out, looking momentarily relieved to find Peanut having a good go with Marshmallow in the open. And then he turns a glare to Chuuya as he walks over.]

Return him.

audio

[givethemhell]

[BINCH HE'S CALLIN. Like starting by the end of day 1 of Jiang Cheng just fUCKIN NOT BEING AROUND and continuing periodically until he PICKS UP, he's calling. Ring ring! Answer the phone!!]

[goldenrepair]

[The only reason he doesn't answer the first few times is because he's trying to be productive paper-wise even though he kind of hates being paper productive. BUT HE CAN'T CONCENTRATE LIKE THIS.

So he answers, finally.]

What?

[He's so nice.]

audio.

[unfriendliest]

[ hey jc. were you waiting long? as soon as he picks up, kara gets right to it. ]

Did something happen?

[goldenrepair]

[Kara...........bless.]

It's us, Ookurikara. [He doesn't sound happy.] Some of us.

can't believe i only have one jiang cheng thread anna, sometime this week

[osuni]

[anyway okuni went through an Ordeal, and she's also learned from Xie Lian that she has to tell people what's going on so here she is, moseying on over to Jiang Cheng's place.]

Jiang-chan!

[knocking and also looking around, are his dogs around, she wants to play with them while waiting]

he's very tired ok

[goldenrepair]

[Hmmmm. There is a surprising lack of dogs right now, believe it or not. That's weird.

But as soon as she knocks, a small chorus of barking starts up from somewhere back in the apartment. A muffled voice says something harsh, and they stop, but the sounds of their stomping feet move through the apartment toward the front door. After a moment, it opens.

Four dogs spill out to excitedly greet Okuni, leaving a sort of sour-faced Jiang Cheng there. He doesn't have the sling anymore, but his shoulder does have a shoulder support brace over the outside of the button-up shirt.]

What'd you get into this time?

[fracturamods]

[Hello lovebirds! Hope you aren't feeling too sour grapes over the Date Auction fiasco or the, uh... murder!

You'll find yourself being handed a gift basket by one of the volunteers who worked the Date Auction now that they've finalized all the bids. It'll contain a single unhinged lock (no key) as a suggestion to maybe make a promise with your beloved on Peony Bridge, as well as a letter to announce your date:

Your winning bid was by Shigure in the amount of $69.69.

Have a memorable Azalea Lights Festival! All proceeds from the Date Auction will be sent full of love to charity. ♥

Isn't that nice? :) What a good cause. ]

hello yes i have to backdate this a little but that's okay

[dianxias]

[ let's assume somewhere between the flames in the district and the time before my role post is hella due --

xie lian will call for jiang cheng's attention from his office. he doubts he's gone far (maybe walking his dog?? who knows) but nonetheless, a summon awaits! ]

THIS IS OK

[goldenrepair]

[Jiang Cheng comes in looking like a disaster. Well. His clothes are fine and pristine, as usual. But he can't have any usual button-up; the sleeves irritate the burns along his arms despite them being lightly wrapped.

Not something he can hide exactly, so he doesn't try.

He comes when he's called, though, regardless! Just him unfortunately. Looking tired.]

action!

[givethemhell]

[god is his apartment even standing WELL IF IT IS HE'S HERE, KNOCKING ON JIANG CHENG'S DOOR. HELLO!! And if it's not, uh. He's about to go on a hunt through Westside to find him I GUESS. The things he does for stupid Jiang Cheng.]

[goldenrepair]

[STOP, HIS APARTMENT THAT THE TRAITOR BURNT DOWN. It's fine, it didn't quite reach his house which is good.

There is a surprising lack of barking from the apartment when Wei Wuxian knocks, though. It takes a few minutes for the door to open. It's infuriating how well put together Jiang Cheng always looks despite having his arms wrapped from wrist to shoulder in gauze.

He looks :| that it's Wei Wuxian.]

[givethemhell]

[A letter is slipped under Jiang Cheng's door at some point in the night. Folded into it is a black and white photograph: a young Wei Wuxian, Baren, Okuni and Jiang Cheng.]

Jiang Cheng,

You probably knew from pretty early on, right? It's always been like that. If there's anyone I can rely on to be there yelling at me for doing this or that, it's you. I wanted to ask you a few times just how much you knew, just how much you were biting your tongue. I saw the way you would look at me sometimes - I wish I had done something about it, but I'm not even sure what I could have done.

I think I'd have only given you trouble if I tried, anyway. More things for you to yell about. If I had said anything at all, I don't think it would have done any good. For some reason, every time I do something that I think may help make things better for you, the opposite happens. Not involving you at all seemed like the best option, you know?

But you're reading this now, so maybe it wasn't. I hope I can at least take more of these people out before they catch up with me. I have a lot of regrets, but I'll never regret doing what I did to those men. They deserved worse.

What else is there to say, then? Probably a lot. I'm not very good at this. Isn't that funny? Talking is so easy when it's just words you say, but having to see it all on paper makes it so hard for some reason. You deserve more than a written apology like this anyway, but it's the best I can do right now.

So, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I put you into such a terrible position. I'm sorry that I didn't say anything. I'm sorry for all of the times I upset you, or gave you a headache, or made life just a little harder. Or a lot harder, probably. It really is just going to be a matter of time before your hair starts turning grey or falling out, but maybe you'll have a chance at keeping it around longer now. Not a bad trade, right?

Now that I'm writing it all down, I really do have a lot of things to apologize for, don't I? I don't even have the time or paper for all of them. You really are superhuman, putting up with me for so many years. I'm grateful for it though, you know? You and Okuni and Baren made growing up in a place like this good.

I've always thought of you as a little brother. I'm sorry I wasn't a better big brother to you. I don't think I've ever managed to give you anything good, you know? Not once. I'm sorry. I love you.

Please watch over A-yuan for me. Make sure he grows into a good man like his jiujiu.

Take care,
Wei Ying

[crudest]

[One of Jiang Cheng's dogs has two collars.

Tucked underneath the new one - an old one that he's been looking for, probably, given how long it's been in Baren's possession - there's only a simple note:]

See? I'm not doing the stupid thing and laying down to die.

If you don't take care of what's left, I'll come back just to haunt you, Jiang-chan.

[And because it's Baren, and he can't ever make anything easy, the note smells of lemon. JC will need to heat it up a bit to see the message written on the back:

Always told you not to expect anything from me.]

post-maf town lmf

[souheki]

[Wherever Jiang Cheng is, at some point, he'll probably be able to sense Lan Wangji's approach. Or something. I DON'T KNOW HOW CULTIVATION WORKS DON'T LOOK AT ME.

Either way, Lan Wangji will track him down eventually, but he'll also just kind of

hover awkwardly in his vicinity

until Jiang Cheng notices him and speaks first, because even though he's decided to do this, he's still kind of debating changing his mind at the last minute...]

[goldenrepair]

[Why is fucking Lan Wangji so stupid? It's like a child shuffling around, wanting to talk, but not wanting to say anything. Jiang Cheng makes Lan Wangji do that for a bit, trying to ignore the fact the man is wanting to get his attention.

What sucks about getting fragments back is getting them back over top of remembering everything from the world before. It looks like Jiang Cheng is angry, the way he's standing with his back and shoulders rigid. He doesn't turn around to formally acknowledge Lan Wangji.]

What do you want, Hanguang-jun?

sometime after his talk with eliza GOD

[givethemhell]

[INTO JIANG CHENG'S DORMS HE FLITS like he fckin owns the place, immediately heading over toward his room first. If he doesn't answer there, Wei Wuxian will try the dorm prez office next: a series of very loud knocks and an equally loud (and obnoxious):]

A-Cheeeng, open up! Let me see your adorable face, I've come to pinch your cheeks.

[What a fuckin punk.]

i hate this

[goldenrepair]

[The God awful, harping cry of his name really grates on his nerves at how sudden it is. Sometimes, it's awkward to try to be by himself in the dorm room with Elizabeth, even if she doesn't bother him.

So he holes up in the dorm office to try to sort through the new responsibilities dumped on him. His name becomes Jiang Wa-- and then some horrendous chicken scratch as his hand jerks from the startle of Wei Wuxian's voice.

The door is unlocked, but he isn't going to tell Wei Wuxian this.]

I thought you fulfilled your quota for that months ago, A-Xian. Sorry. [Dryly:] Dorm Head Wei.

i forgot i said i'd come at your inbox BUT IM HERE NOW

[givethemhell]

[AND SO IS WEI WUXIAN, UNFORTUNATELY... We can backdate this to before The Plague if you want to spare Jiang Cheng some suffering for once in his wholeass life but Wei Wuxian will be the same EITHER WAY. He spends enough time on the rivers that he was one of the first to become desensitized to the plague effects, after all.

So up he rows to the dock, stepping to the bow as a few straggling passengers pick their way off and scatter into the wilderness. This area's one of the more crowded docks, so he announces himself instead of just floatin' on by waiting to see if anyone needs a lift.]

Hello, hello, good patrons! Next ride's leaving in a few minutes! Board quickly, alright?

GET OUT OF HERE CAIN

[goldenrepair]

[People get off the boat and disperse, leaving behind at least one lone soul who is waiting to get on. He's familiar perhaps, but maybe not dream familiar.

To Wei Wuxian, he's familiar in the sense he is a human man with a reputations for hunting demons under contract, hailing from a family with a mother who does the same thing.

His eyes look Wei Wuxian over somewhat distrustfully and disdainfully. It doesn't strike him yet. The boat sways when his weight steps off the dock and onto the deck. He's armed to the teeth, in a way, with a sword and a leather whip, and eyes full of daggers.]

emerges from the shadows snapping rhythmically

[givethemhell]

[Look.

Wei Wuxian said that it's best if their paths don't cross anymore, but Jiang Cheng is still his brother. Even if Jiang Cheng won't claim him as such ever again, and even if Wei Wuxian himself wants to leave the broken ties of their past behind them so they can move forward... It's hard to just step away. Especially after he'd gotten even a tiny glimpse of Jiang Cheng's life in Koun. The life he'd lived without him.

He hopes that, outside of the death of that friend of his, it was a happy one.

That's what leads to him searching for his very angry grape of a shidi, in any case. WHERE ART THOU JIANG CHENG!! He plans on just taking a look from afar, just to catch a glimpse, just to do a little bit of gauging.]

you deserve this

[goldenrepair]

[I have no idea how the Wanluigi fight is going to turn out, so Jiang Cheng may be a little beat up and hopefully not dead.

In Koun, Jiang Cheng didn't have a great time. He did have his family, which is more than he can say for this world, but it wasn't a good time.

In The Space, he's standing by one of the bus stops, face pale and eyes hollow, staring into the distance. The train waiting closes its doors and begins to roll on without him entering. It's a look Wei Wuxian has seen before, if he remembers: a long time ago, when they were young, stumbling away from a destroyed Yunmeng and fleeing the Wens. He simply remains in place, his fingers gripped around the drawn sword hanging limp by his legs.

His other hand is curled tight into the purple robes over the middle of his chest.]