middaeg | Just a Cultivator Out and About

Entry tags:

mdzs: jin ling

Just a Cultivator Out and About

Who: Jiang Cheng and you!
When: Ieneur
Where: Around the city
What: Catch-all
Warnings: Currently none, but will update if need be

Out and About
The weather was cool, but that wasn't going to stop Jiang Cheng from going out and wandering the city. He didn't really any place he was intending to go; any shopping he had needed to do for the holiday was over and done with, but even so, he still couldn't help but look. Jin Ling had not been in the best of sorts for a while so he was looking to see if there anything that he could give to his nephew.

So this is where he was, standing outside of a shop, looking in the window while he kept his purple cloak around. Would Jin Ling like this...?

Out of the City Quest
When Jiang Cheng had heard about the call for others to help aid those located outside of the city and one of the things that they were looking for was someone to fight, Jiang Cheng had volunteered. Even if he was hindered by the fact that he was now a merrow with only water-related magic, he still knew how to fight hand-to-hand and with a sword and bow. So he had packed up everything that he had so that he could teach and headed out to help.

The unfortunate part was the illness outside of the wall. As much as previously he wouldn't have been worried because his healing abilities as a cultivator were so great, now he couldn't afford to risk it. So it was with an exasperated sigh that he accepted the offered items that he would need to interact with those who might be sick, glancing over at the other who had also come.

Closed to anyone who is at his house
While the end of the last month, he spent quite a lot of time indoors, now Jiang Cheng had cabin fever and wanted to be outside far more. He had taken his sword outside and was practicing in the courtyard, doing all of the poses with his sword and occasionally critiquing himself out loud when he didn't perform one perfectly.

Also outside with him was Li Mei, his calico cat, sitting on a fence with one of the toys that she had gotten from Nami. She had dragged it with her up one to the fence to keep it away from the boy cats. It was HER toy.

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The weather is perfect if you ask Wei Wuxian. But then he has fur, not to mention a little drink in his hand to help keep him warm.

It's the vibrant color of his brother's cloak that catches his attention first. But he quickly recognizes him from behind, and heads that way to throw his arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulder.

"Are you looking at something for me? Don't go to too much trouble! I take straight coin too!" Wei Wuxian grins brightly. "Have you missed me?"

The drink in his hands would certainly help with keeping him warm. Too bad that Jiang Cheng hadn't thought about that before going out today...

Jiang Cheng was absorbed in looking in the window and only had a moment where he spotted the reflection of a certain other person coming upon him to brace himself as WuXian threw his arm around his shoulder.

"Not for you! I'm looking for something for Jin Ling." He sighed but didn't push WuXian away. "Did you go somewhere?"

"....No." A little petulance enters his voice when he answers. Can't he be missed anyway? Jiang Cheng should miss him simply because they're not together every hour of every day, the way that they were when they were boys!

"Jin Ling?" His pout evaporates at the mention of his nephew. "He'll love anything that you get him, even if he won't say it." He is his father's ~~tsun~~ son. "What about a kite?"

"Well, I suppose I did miss seeing you."

At least he didn't say he missed him when he had been trying to throw something at him...

"Hmm... I suspect so, but still, I wonder what he would want."

It had always been something that he had been concerned with even when Jin Ling was little. Didn't help that he had family that would give him anything he wanted without question.

"A kite could work. I don't think that would be too young for him. Which one?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder at WuXian.

Wei Wuxian's smile returns brighter than before, a fondness in his eyes as he gives Jiang Cheng's shoulders another squeeze. Even if he had said that, the puca would've known what he really meant.

"I miss you too. And your couch. How's the cat?" There is still a little catching up to do, but first, the thing that his brother came out for. Wuxian rubs his chin as he considers. "Hmm...maybe instead of buying one outright, you could buy the supplies and make one with him? Just a suggestion."

Because it's true that Jin Ling has been spoiled with everything material since his birth, a poor little rich boy with no parents. In the face of that, maybe what he wants more than anything is a bit of his uncle's time.

"My couch? You want to be sleeping on the couch?" That was not necessarily the most comfortable place to sleep even if he had been doing that recently because of reasons. "She's been doing well. Nami gave me toys for her and she's been protecting them from the boys and playing with them in my room so they can't take them."

The life of a pet owner.

"Hmm... that is actually a good idea." Like it was a surprise WuXian could have a good idea. "That way it can be his."

"You'd be surprised at how many worse places I've slept! Eh - remember that one inn in Caiyi Town?" He's really thinking of other places - the burial mounds, the few times he was able to sleep at all. And the Demon Slaughtering Cave, with the smell of blood always so thick in the air. But those are unpleasant memories that would taint this otherwise happy moment.

"And it can be better, all purple and gold, shimmering in the sky. You won't find that in any store! C'mon Jiang Cheng, let's go shopping!"

Sorry Jiang Cheng, this is now your afternoon.

Yes, he knew of some of the places that WuXian had slept in his life, but they were all bad memories of times, he'd rather not remember either. At least the couch was a step up from those places.

But the question about the inn, he scoffed in amusement. "Of course I do. No wonder our couch is such a good place to sleep."

He wasn't at all surprised by WuXian's enthusiasm, but then again... he also was. Well, this really was how his day was going to be.

"Alright. Let's go. Where to first? Should we get the fabric so we know how much wood we need to get?"

"We'll get the fabric first, and then we'll stop for a drink. Then we'll pick out the material for the frame, and we'll have an afternoon drink. After that, we'll shop for whatever's left, and you can come back to my place!"

Wait for it...

"For spicy vegetable stew over rice! And a drink!"

Do you see now why he and Lan Zhan do their shopping separately more often than not?

He's beginning to see a pattern here in that after everything they do, they stop for a drink. So he was not at all surprised that the last one also included a drink. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes.

"A drink after every stop? Are we going to be able to walk to your house or is someone going to have to push us there?"

Though the stew did sound good...

"I'm sure I will be. I can still hold my alcohol. And you...should be able to drink like a fish!" Wei Wuxian points at him and laughs brightly. Just a little monster joke between brothers. But it'll die down quickly if Jiang Cheng doesn't suddenly share his sense of humor. "Eh...anyway, I'll be fine. And I can carry you if you're not."

Just piggybacking him through the marketplace, it's fine.

"Sooo...have you spoken to A-Mi lately?"

Wei Wuxian nudges him, dying to know since he first spotted him.

Jiang Cheng gave him a flat look at that comment for that fish comment, seeming to be annoyed about it. "Fine, if you say that you will be able to handle it. I guess you better hop to it."

'Hop'... because he's a puca. And there's a smirk on Jiang Cheng's face at his own joke.

"Of course I have. She brought presents to Li Mei for the holiday."

"Jiang Cheng! That's a terrible joke!"

Wei Wuxian leans away for a moment, pretending to be outraged. But it doesn't take long for the grin to creep back in again.

"I'm really proud of you."

Whether it's drinking, fighting, or terrible puns, he always did enjoy someone who could keep up with him.

"Oh?" He takes his flute out of his belt to twirl in his fingers. This is him being nonchalant. "Just for Li Mei?"

"Well, that is something we do have in common," Jiang Cheng remarked when WuXian was grinning again, having not even considered that he was actually seriously annoyed by the joke. This was WuXian after all.

It was something that they had always been able to do. Tease each other.

Nonchalant... "There was something for me as well."

Wuxian grabs his brother's arm, pulling him close and clinging to him again.

"I knew it. What was it? Was it personal? Romantic? Did you thank her properly?"

He might be just a little too invested in his brother's love life. But really, who could've guessed that they'd even get this chance.

"A set of robes that are fast drying." Since he's the dork who swims in a layer of robes and he can't fully change back when wet. "And a whetstone. Of course, I thanked her properly. What do you take me for?"

Wait don't answer that. Amazing how his brother is so obsessed with his love life...

"That was really thoughtful of her. Practical and - well, women don't go around buying clothes for just anyone, do they?"

Do they? He might pretend to know a lot, but his only experience with this - women and clothing - amounts to when Wen Qing used to make him wash A-Yuan's.

He squints at a sudden thought.

"I wonder how she knew your size."

"Well, she probably wouldn't buy it for you."

Just stating the fact.

"I suppose it is fine. It's not like she bought anything that shouldn't be mentioned. I suspect that she has seen me enough times to have an idea."

Or Yanli had helped and he didn't know.

Guard your ribs, Jiang Cheng. Wei Wuxian is lightly aiming his elbow for them.

He also nods along with the other man's words. It really is fine. But then he goes over those last words in his head and-

"Jiang Cheng!" He hops directly into his path, facing him. "Just what do you mean by that?"

Hey, don't hit him in the ribs! He is going to try and block even though it is unsuccessful, which is good that it was light.

He stared at WuXian as he suddenly jumped in front of him. "What? We have been in the same place at the same time. It's only natural that being a person with working eyes she'd see me."

Yes, it was completely innocently.

"Besides, I have to remove a few layers of robes in order to transform."

Or maybe not so innocently.

Jin Ling has been bedridden for the better part of the past two months, and it's only recently that he's even gotten out of his own room. That is to say, maybe he shouldn't be up and about so soon yet, but he's jittery despite still feeling a little sick, and he doesn't want to sit still or lay still or... well.

Right now he's fled his room, if even slowly, stumbling his way to the courtyard for fresh air, only to pause and quickly try to hide in the doorway when he sees his uncle. Mmmmmaybe he can sneak past? Or sneak back into the house before he's caught wandering around.

At least he looks a little better than before?

Sneak passed his uncle? Not likely to happen. Especially considering he was taking up most of the courtyard and using it to its fullest as he practiced. He didn't want to get rusty after all.

Li Mei the cat stretched from her position and meowed, almost as if she had seen him and was trying to talk to him, but she didn't come any closer.

But before Jin Ling made it away from the door and out of sight, his uncle turned and spotted him.

"Jin Ling?"

Yeah look, he's not even being subtle or sneaky at all. Because he still feels under the weather and twitchy.

So he absolutely startles when his uncle calls him, dog ears laid back and tail tensed up as he slowly turns around.

"J-jiujiu..."

Jiang Cheng was hardly mad when he came over, sheathing Sandu as he walked.

"You're up. Are you well?"

"I..."

He fidgets, looks to the sides and then down at the ground before he crosses his arms over his chest. He can't really lie about things, but he's absolutely defensive for no reason whatsoever and it's annoying to be. He mumbles his words out, tired.

"Not... not really but it's fine. I couldn't— I didn't want to be stuck inside anymore."

"Hmm."

It was understandable. How long had he not been feeling well after all? It was expected that he was ready to up even if he wasn't feeling the best.

"Then come sit with me. You can be out of your room, but you aren't alone."

He blinks for a second and stares with parted lips in confusion at first before nods quickly.

"Ah... yes Jiujiu."

He might be twitchy, but he relaxes slightly when his uncle isn't contrite with him, and the slowly shuffles out into the courtyard to join him.

At least being told to sit outside with him was better than being yelled at and being sent back to his room. Maybe fresh air would help clear whatever was making him feel unwell. Jiang Cheng walked beside his nephew making sure he stayed up and didn't fall.

"Are you feeling any better than you were?"

Li Mei stood and stretched from her vantage point, watching.

It's definitely better, and he's too tired to argue with his uncle now anyway. He's making his way to sitting down fairly well, considering he couldn't get out of bed just a few days ago.

"...a little. I feel restless and irritable, though." As his monster side would do, when he doesn't have a bond. It's worse than before, so he decidedly doesn't want to be bedridden.

It's probably what he'll get badgered about, getting a bond. His father has already talked to him about it, several weeks back, but Jin Ling is stubborn. And then he got sick, so it was put on hold.

Jiang Cheng walked with him to sit down, making sure that he did and did so safely. As he sat down, Li Mei teleported down and rubbed up against his leg. Hello, human who also kind of looked like a dog.

"There is a reason for that," Jiang Cheng remarked, already knowing that those were symptoms of not having a bond. Of course, having gotten sick didn't help at all.

He's trying his best not to feel inadequate and weak when he's being semi!supported, and elects to just ignore that feeling for now. He almost startles when the cat goes to brush up against him, and then he just breathes out with a sigh, sinking down wherever he's sitting. He really is just on edge and it's annoying.

"...I know that," it's defensive and he's looking away from his uncle when he replies, reaching down to pet Mei Li.

Boy, he really was on edge. Jiang Cheng could see that. Once Jin Ling was sitting and stable, reaching down to pet the cat, Jiang Cheng nodded his head once.

"As long as you know that." Since they've been telling him and there is only so much telling they can do before it turns into the other person wanting to do it.

Li Mei was very happy with that, rubbing against him and purring, clearly unconcerned that he kind of smelled like a dog. Then again, she was around him fairly often... and Fairy.

He's grateful that the cats at least aren't shying away from him even if he's all... agitated puppy. Jin Ling stalls for a bit in silence before he breathes in to speak again.

"...it's just embarrassing." He pauses, sets his mouth in a line and his ears laying back, betraying how this is difficult for him to admit. "And I'm tired of this. I don't..."

He swallows, wets his lips and sniffles. "I want to say I don't like this place, and I really really don't, but..." He pulls his hand back from the cat and rests them on his knees. "Mother and father..."

Jiang Cheng was quiet at that, looking off for a moment, back in the direction of their house as he listened to Jin Ling speak.

"I understand."

And he did. Completely. As a whole, he hated this place. However, there were a few good things that he could not deny liking. Yanli being here; Nami; Li Mei. At least to name a few. But he would much rather have all those things back home than here. He had become used to not having Yanli at home. It was nice to have her here, but still...

"There are some good things, but this place is still not home."

[ The other would be Vanitas. Though he doesn't really seem to be accepting of the items. No one seems overly concerned about it either. Then again the teen does have both spear and an odd-looking weapon both strapped onto his person.

Maybe the reason he's being largely ignored is because it is Vantias. He makes a habit of coming out several times a month for over a year now. Most people are accustomed to seeing his comings and goings. ]

You don't have to take what they're offering you realize.

[He'd noticed that this other person seemed to both be prepared and that he was being treated more in a manner that he knew what was going on. Both of these told Jiang Cheng that this was not his first trip out of the city.

Not that it was his either, but it was his first assisting with this sort of task. The natives here were new faces to him so of course, they were going to expect him to not know anything.

Typical]

I know. I also know that I don't have to wear them after taking them either.

[He might still wear them even so]

[ Now that is a very good counter argument. It's true. No need to actually wear or use anything that's being given once released into the, heh, wild... ]

You're not wrong about that. I suppose I just wouldn't want more than what I need. Unnecessary weight and all that.

[ Says the kid carrying a weird looking sword and a spear, right? ]

What made you decide to go out anyway.

[Exactly. Besides, maybe he wants them for something else even if he wasn't going to wear them. His sister was not as strong as he was (or at least he still thought of her that way even though her witch powers probably made her stronger than him) so maybe it was something she could use. Not that she came out here that he knew]

True, but it's not like they are handing out rocks.

[Which would have been completely absurd but useful]

I am a sect leader back home. Fighting and training others to fight is what I do with my life. You?

[ In some cases, being a witch doesn't matter. Magic isn't all that effective against infected beasts, creatures, and persons after all. In that sense, Monsters are better equipped to deal with such things naturally.

Not that this stops Vanitas of course. ]

Working out unchecked aggression.

[ Sort of. It is training and keeping his skills sharp. However it is a way to work out his more negative feelings and emotions. Vanitas isn't doing this for charity. ]

[He scoffed in amusement when Vanitas said that]

A good thing to do. I know there would have been people back home who wished I did that.

[He was happier here than he had been back home, having his family here and having made up with WuXian among other things (also being a merrow made him more relaxed even though he didn't realize this), but back home he was more than willing to kill people just for looking at him wrong]

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Just a Cultivator Out and About

out and about

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at the house

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Out of the City

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