"You do, which is why it's odd. Everyone certainly has some, but you have training and signs that a core was there."
He smiles again, though he can't quite hide his bewilderment.
"You are, otherwise, quite healthy, so please put your mind at ease in those regards. Though the loss of your golden core and your amnesia could be intertwined."
How can Shen Yuan respond to that except by shrugging?
"Ah well," he says, carefully flattening out Lan Xichen's hankerchief and refolding it in his lap. "As long as one has their health, they can't worry too much. And I beg Sect Leader not worry too," he adds, offering it back. "This one is safe from harm and living comfortably, thanks to your intervention. What more could anyone need, much less dare to ask for?"
Shen Yuan's heart clenches at the reminder of that old, helpless pain. For a moment he is truly speechless. But it quickly passes, and he gives Lan Xichen a sad smile, saying, "Sect Leader means well, but he should remember that not everyone is so blessed in matters of family as he."
He continues, "This one has already given some careful thought to the matter. This one was found alone in the woods, with no letters of credit or identification on his person, is it not so? Not even a crest or tassel to indicate his hometown." He shakes his head sadly. "Who would choose to travel in such a manner? It seems to this one that there are only two explanations: either I chose to leave all means of identifying myself behind, or these things were taken from me. If the first, what does that say about me? Surely only someone up to no good would do such a thing; and if my goal was to commit some nefarious deed, then I can only consider my amnesia an act of the heavens." Man, this is great material he came up with here. Eat your heart out, Airplane.
"If the second," he continues with a quiet sigh, "then I fear my case is truly hopeless. My captors either bypassed the town completely, or were so subtle in their passing that nobody marked their presence. Who can say where they came from, or which way they went after having their way with me? And returning to the subject of family, why did no one stop them? Why has no one followed my trail and asked after me? I can only conclude that, unfilial though it may sound, either my family was too weak to be any help, or they're glad to be rid of me. Or perhaps I have always been alone in the world." He shrugs again. "You see? What use is it to dwell on these things? I will only make myself cry again, or something equally unworthy."
For a moment, Lan Xichen looks completely taken aback by the outburst.
And then it all clicks into place.
The missing core, the lack of identity, it all makes perfect sense now. This young man must be one of the remnants of the ravaged Wen Sect, perhaps even one who suffered at the hands of Wen Zhuliu himself! It all makes sense!
How thoughtless Lan Xichen had been, what an utter dunce!
He kneels down, gently clasping Yuan's hands, a warm smile on his face. (He even has the same name as one of the other Wen remnants in their midst, posed as his very own nephew).
"If a new life is what you desire," he says, kindness and welcome practically radiating off him like little beams of sunshine, "then you are very welcome to build it here."
Not that this wasn't the reaction he was gunning for, but to recieve it so suddenly, and with such an excess of enthusiasm...boy, would Shen Yuan like to know wtf he just said to stir up this reaction!
Still, as it was his life and safety on the line, he chose not to look a gift horse in the mouth and instead tried his best to look simply grateful, simply relieved. "Sect Leader Lan!" he gasped. "So kind, so generous...truly peerless...The best among men..."
Well, as long as he can avoid fucking this up in the future, he'll probably be set!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-10-22 07:41 pm (UTC)He smiles again, though he can't quite hide his bewilderment.
"You are, otherwise, quite healthy, so please put your mind at ease in those regards. Though the loss of your golden core and your amnesia could be intertwined."
no subject
Date: 2022-10-22 07:50 pm (UTC)"Ah well," he says, carefully flattening out Lan Xichen's hankerchief and refolding it in his lap. "As long as one has their health, they can't worry too much. And I beg Sect Leader not worry too," he adds, offering it back. "This one is safe from harm and living comfortably, thanks to your intervention. What more could anyone need, much less dare to ask for?"
no subject
Date: 2022-10-22 08:56 pm (UTC)"It's not wrong to ask more of life than that."
(Speak for yourself, Lan Huan.)
He gently closes Shen Yuan's hand over the kerchief. Something to hold onto in case he was overcome with emotions again.
"It is not that you are not welcome, but surely you must be worried about any friends and family...? They must be worried about you as well."
no subject
Date: 2022-10-22 09:17 pm (UTC)Shen Yuan's heart clenches at the reminder of that old, helpless pain. For a moment he is truly speechless. But it quickly passes, and he gives Lan Xichen a sad smile, saying, "Sect Leader means well, but he should remember that not everyone is so blessed in matters of family as he."
He continues, "This one has already given some careful thought to the matter. This one was found alone in the woods, with no letters of credit or identification on his person, is it not so? Not even a crest or tassel to indicate his hometown." He shakes his head sadly. "Who would choose to travel in such a manner? It seems to this one that there are only two explanations: either I chose to leave all means of identifying myself behind, or these things were taken from me. If the first, what does that say about me? Surely only someone up to no good would do such a thing; and if my goal was to commit some nefarious deed, then I can only consider my amnesia an act of the heavens." Man, this is great material he came up with here. Eat your heart out, Airplane.
"If the second," he continues with a quiet sigh, "then I fear my case is truly hopeless. My captors either bypassed the town completely, or were so subtle in their passing that nobody marked their presence. Who can say where they came from, or which way they went after having their way with me? And returning to the subject of family, why did no one stop them? Why has no one followed my trail and asked after me? I can only conclude that, unfilial though it may sound, either my family was too weak to be any help, or they're glad to be rid of me. Or perhaps I have always been alone in the world." He shrugs again. "You see? What use is it to dwell on these things? I will only make myself cry again, or something equally unworthy."
no subject
Date: 2022-10-22 11:36 pm (UTC)And then it all clicks into place.
The missing core, the lack of identity, it all makes perfect sense now. This young man must be one of the remnants of the ravaged Wen Sect, perhaps even one who suffered at the hands of Wen Zhuliu himself! It all makes sense!
How thoughtless Lan Xichen had been, what an utter dunce!
He kneels down, gently clasping Yuan's hands, a warm smile on his face. (He even has the same name as one of the other Wen remnants in their midst, posed as his very own nephew).
"If a new life is what you desire," he says, kindness and welcome practically radiating off him like little beams of sunshine, "then you are very welcome to build it here."
no subject
Date: 2022-10-23 12:13 am (UTC)Eheheh, what just happened?
Not that this wasn't the reaction he was gunning for, but to recieve it so suddenly, and with such an excess of enthusiasm...boy, would Shen Yuan like to know wtf he just said to stir up this reaction!
Still, as it was his life and safety on the line, he chose not to look a gift horse in the mouth and instead tried his best to look simply grateful, simply relieved. "Sect Leader Lan!" he gasped. "So kind, so generous...truly peerless...The best among men..."
Well, as long as he can avoid fucking this up in the future, he'll probably be set!