[Video; UN: laowen]

[ghostlord]

[Wen Kexing should be recognizable, but his white hair might be confusing. He gives his communicator a curious smile. A busy city can be seen behind him - as well as the stares he is attracting.]

A-Xu? Were you bored by our mountain? You should have told me we were moving.

[Does he have any idea if Zishu is present? No. He just...trusts.]

Ah, I've forgotten how to properly introduce myself. Forgive me. Wen Kexing, at your service.

Comments

[yeoldmonster]

[Baiyi chuckles and takes a handful of trail mix. He wags a finger at the younger man.]

My house isn't big enough for your ego. [And Baiyi's!]

[He shakes his head and his tone turns more serious.]

You should know that there was another version of you here and he left about a month ago. He was from an earlier time than when you and I are from, but the same as Zishu. His/ your leaving.. it just about killed your husband.

[ghostlord]

My ego is cute compared to yours! [He narrows his eyes and steals a few nuts, popping them into his mouth. The sensation of food on his tongue - actual food - makes him shudder.]

Mm? [And then Baiyi drops a bomb. Kexing swallows and pales.] I would never do that to him! Not...not on purpose. I won't leave him ever again.

[yeoldmonster]

[Baiyi shakes his head quickly at that.]

I know- he knows that. It isn't something that can be helped here. None of us have any control over that. I'm telling you this happened so you know just how much he's going to be downplaying how hellish this last month has been for him.

You see, these bonds aren't just like normal relationships. The kizuna magic binds us together in every way. When or if a bond breaks, it is felt physically as well as emotionally.

It's something you need to be aware of.

[ghostlord]

[Kexing grits his teeth and glares at the table. If he could glare at the one responsible for sending him back, he would. But the table will have to do.

Poor A-Xu. Him leaving had just worsened everything. Zishu isn't even healed yet! Banging his fist against the table, he growls (though not like a bear):]

How can I stop it? If the magic tortures him the moment I leave, it's not good. [Even if it gives Zishu cute fox ears and nine tails.]

[yeoldmonster]

[Just as he suspected, this information is new to Kexing. Whatever his husband told him had not been the full picture. It's noble of his descendant, but it isn't fair to Kexing.. and for once, that matters.

He doesn't react when the young man strikes the table. He knows he'd react similarly if this was him- well, a version of him who has been here a while. His emotions are much more pronounced than they were at home. He doesn't know if that's a result of the kizuna magic or if it's just being here in a new place and everything that's happened here.]

If you ever find out, tell me. I have a wish that needs granting if you ever find out who is truly in charge of these things.

[He shakes his head again and pushes the bowl of nuts closer to his friend.]

Don't let this consume you right now, we can work together on that later. There are more important things like caring for your husband and that little imp you call a daughter.

[ghostlord]

[They hadn't been able to talk...much. But he had sensed Zishu's desperation and it had worried him. Now he knows the reason behind it. The kizuna magic had just made their parting a thousand times worse!

Opening and closing his fist, he refocuses on Baiyi and nods at his request.]

I won't keep it to myself.

[Many refugees must be suffering - and for no reason! How is that fair?]

I'll take care of them. No one is more important to me.

[yeoldmonster]

{Baiyi doesn’t say it and wouldn’t, but the pain hadn’t been limited to just those two. Losing the pest had been like a knife on Baiyi’s own heart- along with a few other loses at the same time.}

There may be others who were close to you who you won’t know.

{He smirks and his gaze lifts to Kexing’s hair. He chuckles.}

Although your hair should be a clue to them you’re a different idiot than you were before.

[ghostlord]

[He knows you love him secretly, Baiyi. Your duels with him are too fun for it to be otherwise.]

Are you saying you missed me?

[He's...teasing. But not. If Baiyi was hurt because of him, that sucks and he doesn't want it.]

You're really very charming.

[yeoldmonster]

I wasn't meaning me!

[But he can't deny the truth in Kexing's words either. He'd been thinking about others here in the city that might have been friends of the brat's- those not from their world, perhaps. It had seemed like something to warn him about.

He chuckles at the jokes and gulps down the rest of the sake in his glass. He takes the bottle to refill his cup and Kexing's if needed.]

Yours wasn't the only bond break I've dealt with recently, but I wasn't nearly as bad off as Zishu.

[ghostlord]

Don't play coy, it doesn't suit you.

[He notices that Baiyi didn't say no. Grinning slowly, strangely pleased, he eats some more nuts. The sake is good and he happily accepts a refill~]

Oh? What happened? [No pushing. No teasing. He's listening if Baiyi wants to talk.]

[yeoldmonster]

[Baiyi gives Kexing a sour look and rolls his eyes. However, there's just a hint of humor there that gives the old man away. Back home, he easily could've hidden half the emotions that keep showing up on his face today but somehow he isn't now (or can't).

He frowns and looks down at his glass at the question. He thought maybe he'd share but now that he's being faced with it, he finds it harder than he'd expected. He'd been such a fool to believe someone so young could be a companion. Finally, he just shakes his head.]

It's unimportant now.

[His gaze rises and again, his eyes reveal emotion- pain- before he can blink it away.]

What did you think about your husband's silly fox features?

[ghostlord]

[Baiyi's humor is reflected in Kexing's eyes; some things don't need to be put into words. And, really, it's nice to be missed. That tends to mean people give a damn about you, right?

Sipping more sake, he waits for Baiyi to unload or avoid the topic. Either choice is fine with him until he sees the pain, blatant in the other man's eyes.

Who the hell caused that?!]

Is it the scorpion?

[Why does he feels irrationally angry at seeing Baiyi in pain? What is in this sake?]

He's adorable and he knows it.

[yeoldmonster]

{Kexing has changed. He would’ve done better at pretending he didn’t care once upon a time. Had his experience in the mountain softened him? The answer is ‘of course’ and Baiyi is quite familiar with it. Although he’d stayed up there so long and so alone he’d hardened instead of softened.

Either way, his discomfort grows when the brat doesn’t immediately take the change of subject for the distraction it was meant to be.

He shakes his head.}

No, he helped me.

{He sighs.}

There was another who was with Xie’er and then with both of us. He ended up being too young and too.. modern. I used to think no one could be more dramatic than you, but these people who are from a time much later than ours are way worse.

There is a man who lives in your manor who turned out to be a poor choice as a friend. As far as I know Zishu still is fond of him so I won’t say more about him.

Relationships here are complicated. The kizuna magic influence can be very annoying. It doesn’t just make people gain these ridiculous animal traits.

[ghostlord]

[It's fair to say Kexing has been reborn. All of his anger and bitterness and pain died with him on the mountain and when his A-Xu woke him, he was free. Free to love and fight and teach without anything tying him to his awful past.]

Huh. [Hearing about a helpful Scorpion King and Baiyi dating someone even younger is a lot to take in. But...isn't he proof that people can change?]

People adapt to their environment. You can't have any expectations.

[Nodding slowly, he files his questions away for later when he is with Zishu.]

But you're...happy? With Xie Wang?

[yeoldmonster]

[Is it adapting these 'modern' people have done or simply lost their collective minds? He doesn't know. He just doesn't like them and will probably be slow to befriend them in the future. Although Runyu is very old and still acted like a child having a tantrum.

Who knows.

Either way, everything softens and he's back on solid ground at this question. It's so very telling how easy this is to answer compared to when he was asked by Runyu about Riley.]

Yes. Being freed from Zhao Jing and the rest of what chained him down, he's a new man. I'll marry him in the spring or summer.

[Is this something he is supposed to discuss with Xie first? Probably! Does Baiyi even bother thinking there's a chance Xie will say no or not want this? Not even a little. They are courting and that courting is going to have its predictable and desired conclusion.]

[ghostlord]

[Marry? Had Ye Baiyi just said he would marry someone? Much less Xie Wang?! Kexing might need to sit down or drink something strong. Where is the wine?

He laughs and then shakes his head, amazed and...well.]

I wouldn't have seen myself with A-Xu either. He's way too good for me. You're like that with the Scorpion. If you help him, who am I to judge?

[It's one less enemy he has to worry about and really, holding onto hatred is exhausting.]

You better invite me.

[yeoldmonster]

[Yes, yes he did. And they were just going to ignore so very hard that just saying that has given Baiyi a funny feeling along his upper chest. He just knows that stupid kizuna magic picked this moment to give him more fur. Ugh. He rubs his chest a bit uncomfortably, but his expression doesn't change much. He's happy and content and only a little embarrassed admitting it.

How can he not be good to his scorpion? The sweet soul came back and picked him.]

I suppose. Although I may only invite you because I don't want Xie'er to have to cook that day and I will require a feast. I've discovered some of these modern people have a tradition of a large cake as part of their weddings. I'll want that too.

[ghostlord]

[Fur is a nice addition! Every bear needs it. Have you seen a bear without fur? It's just sad.]

That sounds like something you would do. [He pouts and shakes his head.] The menu has to be perfect. A foodie like you will demand the full spread and one of those gigantic cakes!

[And Kexing will provide.]

[yeoldmonster]

[Clearly, he's been a bear without fur all his life until now. He begrudgingly likes it, even if he's pretty sure he's going to roast next summer.]

And now you know why.

[He picks up a few nuts from their shared bowl and hands them over to his descendent-in-law. Now Kexing gets to eat again, how wonderful is that?]

When you're settled you should come visit. I don't live at the Four Seasons Manor, though I've stayed there off and on. My home isn't far."

[ghostlord]

[Shavers exist and Baiyi has a dedicated lover who will help him~ The fur doesn't stand a chance.]

At least I can test what I cook instead of sending it out without a clue.

[Kexing pops some nuts into his mouth and sighs, pleased they don't taste like snow.]

Are you inviting me for dinner? Will Scorpion let me cook in your kitchen?

[yeoldmonster]

[He'll just continue to pretend he dislikes it.

He smirks pleased when Kexing clearly enjoys the nuts. He'll need to introduce Kexing to this city's abundance of pastries, muffins, and other foods not common back home.]

He'd never forgive me if he wasn't allowed to cook the meal. You'll just have to trust me that it's safe and good.

[ghostlord]

[He is going to need to exercise more than ever! Baiyi, you know he loves food!]

Hm... [Kexing crunches on another nut before smirking.] You trusting anyone is new, you old monster. He must've earned it.