eastbound inbox

[consignation]

jiang wanyin

missives | encounters

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letter #1

[downswing]

江 晚 吟

三 毒 圣 手

江 宗 主

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曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云。

Pained though I come with hungering hands, I beg you do not wish them bloodied.

To sunder heavens with red wet offence of family thrust against family.

I beg bowed-back:

Do not make of me a young heart, foolhardy. A reckless appetite, untamed. A core languished, mourning.

Do not make of me my nature, clawing. My vices, voracious. My weakness, listless.

Do not make of me a thief, and grant me your brother, fondly. Your clansman, willing. Your first disciple, without regret.

I beg, do not kneel me, lessened, to shadow. Make of my dust and ashes the better man.

I beg your wisdom before my folly. Your alms before my greed. Your mercy before my strain.

I beg in betrothal 魏无羡, born 婴, fallen 夷陵老祖.

Starved, I beg crumbs from your hands.

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蓝
忘
机

[consignation]

拒
绝

1/2

[downswing]

( Do not slaughter the prospective in-laws, they say.

Speak not a tongue of carnage, they say.

Bathe not in their blood, sully not their names, bring no ruin to their already tattered reputation —

...they, who are surely better, heavenly patient and enlightened men whose paths have never crossed that of Jiang Cheng, say. )

[downswing]

江
宗
主
|

根，紧握在地下；
叶，相触在云里。

Humbly, though it transgresses against Jiang Wanyin's dignity —

To cast eye on a proposal upon which his eye has already affixed.

Which he has studied at leisure, unhastened.

Without troubled heart, prejudice or stern rigour.

Knowing he has neglected neither the duties of his care, his clan or reason.

That he has made of himself an instrument to calm, careful and calculating consideration —

And that he has withdrawn already the ink stains of personal hesitations or regret.

All this, having already been done, to the satisfaction of 江宗主's honour, yet still I beg unworthily:

Reconsider.

|

蓝
忘
机

[consignation]

反
对

1/2

[downswing]

( Two brothers, between Wei Wuxian and he.

Two brothers, and clans torn.

They will not inherit further siblings, unless the graceful beauties and earnest warriors of the Gusu Lan niece and nephew pool propagate. Perhaps, unless they adopt the many orphan and bastard streams of Jinlintai.

Alas, no. Lan Wangji cannot halve their limited portion of communal brothers.

But he is tempted. Oh, so very tempted.

...perhaps Zewu-Jun could pass as brother to both. They may fashion him one set of silks, when he represents the Wei, another for the Lan. Different facial accoutrements.

Yes, a most pleasing compromise, for when Xichen is Jia —

...no, no with brother's care for grooming and laughing disposition. They cannot impose so on Zewu-Jun.

Sadly, despite Xichen's filial piety and brotherly concern, they cannot foist splintered allegiance son moustache on him just

to

slaughter




Jiang Cheng.




For now. )

[downswing]

( Time, then, for a shift in strategy. All generals can catch scent of the change in tide. Redirect their arsenal. Optimise. )

江
晚
吟

|

Shall we trade further words over filled cups?

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蓝
忘
机








( Heavens help him, he entertains Yunmeng.

And in Lotus Pier, men who negotiate long.......................... drink. )

[consignation]

[ let it never be said that lan wangji knows only the way of dismemberment and slaughter. jiang cheng gives pause before his final missive. ]

时
间
、
地
点

[downswing]

江
晚
吟

|

Tonight. The Neutral Zone.

I beg the honour of brimming 江晚吟's cup.

|

蓝
忘
机