[ Jin Ling gets the strange feeling - not for the first time - that Wei Wuxian is not talking about him so much as he is talking about himself, but he doesn't actually mind. It still applies.
He takes another deep drink and his head swims a little bit. ]
No! I won't confuse the two of them, I couldn't. That's what I-- that's what I'm trying to say. Sizhui is Sizhui and A-Yuan is A-Yuan and it's--
[ Ah. Yes. The alcohol might be having an effect, because he makes a miserable face and then lunges for those stupid fish chips. ]
I don't know, I don't know our Sizhui as well, but it feels- it feels weird and wrong to even think about him that way. Like-- I know that A-Yuan kisses other people, I know that, so do I, it doesn't actually bother me much. Sometimes when I think about him kissing other people it makes me feel really - weird and warm instead - but when I think about- when I think about the other Jin Ling, the other me, I can't stand it.
I couldn't stand it if A-Yuan fell for him too. And I know that's selfish, because- because that's the one who's real, for him, that's the one he gets to keep, and I'm just--
[ His lips wibble, his eyes getting shiny as he stuffs the chips in his face and then takes another long drink. ]
I'm only here. I'm only here, and it's not fair, and it's not even fair to ask him for anything because I could be gone tomorrow.
Nephew, please know I'm doing this for your sake, so—
[very very gently: a slap on the cheek.]
Channel all this sad energy into something positive. Kiss him. Hug him. Hold his hand. Touch his shoulders! Comb his hair! Talk about cultivation and sweet shaved ice and tanghulu and flyIng on swords! Do everything that you want to do with him, as long as he wants it too!
Jin Ling, listen to me. What if Sizhui disappears tomorrow? What if he leaves and then he comes back and doesn't remember all of this? Would you really just let your hesitation keep you from telling him that you love him now? Don't you owe it to him and yourself to just go for it? Wouldn't it be more scary to not do anything than to reach out and tell him how you feel?
You're worried you're not gonna match up to the other you. That's normal. We always want to be the best version of ourselves, and this place... it makes you really look at the kind of person you could become, for better or worse. But it's not a contest, Jin Ling. You're you, and Sizhui loves you for you.
You have to trust him too. You can't carry all of your feelings. Love means sharing things. It means sometimes you fight, but you also work together to fix it.
[just gonna grip both your shoulders now.]
Sizhui didn't tell you about his feelings just so you can act like an idiot about them. Tell him all of this, and then work it out between the two of you.
But just don't get each other pregnant, because we don't want Jiang Cheng to die.
[ Jin Ling looks ridiculously offended at the slap, and like he's about to throw down, but the outrage dwindles as his uncle continues and his eyes drop a little bit. He feels like his face is on fire, and he wonders where the hell Wei Wuxian managed to drag good advice out of his hellscape of a romantic life, but... He had come to his uncle in the first place. Because he trusted him to be honest to him, at least.
His lips parted to say something, to - to defend himself, or argue, or-- he didn't even know but to say something--
And then Wei Wuxian completely derailed him. He nearly choked on his drink and then suddenly sat up much straighter. ]
That!! How could I?? We're both men! What is with you and pregnancy lately??
I might be! What if Lan Zhan has been taking liberties with me! You never know! Would you be yelling at me if I were carrying a child? Wouldn't you feel guilty!
[well, no, wei wuxian is entirely child-free, but he makes for a convincing act for all of 10 seconds before dropping it in favor of a smile. he shifts, this time, folding his legs under him and resting his chin on the back of his hand as he peers at his nephew with a look.
[ Without any warning at all, and with far less gentleness than Wei Ying had employed, Jin Ling smacks his definitely-not-pregnant uncle on the shoulder. ]
He would not!! Taking liberties! As if! You're being weird again!! I wouldn't feel guilty for yelling at you when you're being weird!!
[ He gives a humph and looks away when Wei Wuxian smiles at him like that, crossing his arms against his chest. Stupid idiot.
... Already forgiven.
At the question he looks back, his brows furrowing. ]
... I-
[ I already did, he wants to say, but something stops him.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He takes another deep drink and his head swims a little bit. ]
No! I won't confuse the two of them, I couldn't. That's what I-- that's what I'm trying to say. Sizhui is Sizhui and A-Yuan is A-Yuan and it's--
[ Ah. Yes. The alcohol might be having an effect, because he makes a miserable face and then lunges for those stupid fish chips. ]
I don't know, I don't know our Sizhui as well, but it feels- it feels weird and wrong to even think about him that way. Like-- I know that A-Yuan kisses other people, I know that, so do I, it doesn't actually bother me much. Sometimes when I think about him kissing other people it makes me feel really - weird and warm instead - but when I think about- when I think about the other Jin Ling, the other me, I can't stand it.
I couldn't stand it if A-Yuan fell for him too. And I know that's selfish, because- because that's the one who's real, for him, that's the one he gets to keep, and I'm just--
[ His lips wibble, his eyes getting shiny as he stuffs the chips in his face and then takes another long drink. ]
I'm only here. I'm only here, and it's not fair, and it's not even fair to ask him for anything because I could be gone tomorrow.
no subject
Nephew, please know I'm doing this for your sake, so—
[very very gently: a slap on the cheek.]
Channel all this sad energy into something positive. Kiss him. Hug him. Hold his hand. Touch his shoulders! Comb his hair! Talk about cultivation and sweet shaved ice and tanghulu and flyIng on swords! Do everything that you want to do with him, as long as he wants it too!
Jin Ling, listen to me. What if Sizhui disappears tomorrow? What if he leaves and then he comes back and doesn't remember all of this? Would you really just let your hesitation keep you from telling him that you love him now? Don't you owe it to him and yourself to just go for it? Wouldn't it be more scary to not do anything than to reach out and tell him how you feel?
You're worried you're not gonna match up to the other you. That's normal. We always want to be the best version of ourselves, and this place... it makes you really look at the kind of person you could become, for better or worse. But it's not a contest, Jin Ling. You're you, and Sizhui loves you for you.
You have to trust him too. You can't carry all of your feelings. Love means sharing things. It means sometimes you fight, but you also work together to fix it.
[just gonna grip both your shoulders now.]
Sizhui didn't tell you about his feelings just so you can act like an idiot about them. Tell him all of this, and then work it out between the two of you.
But just don't get each other pregnant, because we don't want Jiang Cheng to die.
no subject
His lips parted to say something, to - to defend himself, or argue, or-- he didn't even know but to say something--
And then Wei Wuxian completely derailed him. He nearly choked on his drink and then suddenly sat up much straighter. ]
That!! How could I?? We're both men! What is with you and pregnancy lately??
Are you pregnant????
no subject
[well, no, wei wuxian is entirely child-free, but he makes for a convincing act for all of 10 seconds before dropping it in favor of a smile. he shifts, this time, folding his legs under him and resting his chin on the back of his hand as he peers at his nephew with a look.
a very "i have an idea" look.]
Want me to help you confess to Sizhui?
no subject
He would not!! Taking liberties! As if! You're being weird again!! I wouldn't feel guilty for yelling at you when you're being weird!!
[ He gives a humph and looks away when Wei Wuxian smiles at him like that, crossing his arms against his chest. Stupid idiot.
... Already forgiven.
At the question he looks back, his brows furrowing. ]
... I-
[ I already did, he wants to say, but something stops him.
He wants to hear this plan. ]
... What are you suggesting exactly?