I apologize. I will be more considerate next time.
[ There's warmth in his voice, mostly fondness, though he would be lying if he said there wasn't a hint of amused exasperation. Now that he has gotten to know both Wuxian and Wanyin better, it is easy to see how similar the brothers are when it comes to deflecting someone showing genuine care and concern for them - though one with humor, and the other with irritation.
Wuxian's questions leave him quiet for a long moment, trying to gather his thoughts. ]
It is not a satisfying answer, but I don't believe it was personal. I think you were... convenient. There was a gap in power, after Wen Ruohan was defeated, and I suspect Jin Guangshan would have done many things to ensure that he was the one to fill it. The rest of us were in such precarious positions after the war, and he made sure each of us stayed that way. Mingjue and myself through our sworn brotherhood with Jin Guangyao, among other things, and Wanyin through your sister's marriage and by driving a wedge between him and you. By rallying the other sects against you, and making you the next villain to be slain - and this time no one could say the Jin did not take an active role, that they did not suffer loss.
[ It is both strange and not, to be speaking so frankly with Wuxian about this. At the time, it had felt impossible to have such a talk about politics with him - now it feels impossible that he did not. But then, neither of them were the men they are now, back when the war was only just over. ]
I cannot be certain how much of it was A-Y- [ He falters, briefly, then continues. ] How much was Jin Guangyao's idea, and how much was his father's. I would like to believe that it was Jin Guangshan who turned his sights on you. That it was him who wanted Mingjue dead, because he was a threat to his power. But I know it was Jin Guangyao who decided to kill his brother and his father.
Perhaps I am still being foolish, believing that it was that Jin Guangyao chose his father over his sworn brothers, and did what he had to in order to earn his approval, only to be too far gone by the time he realized he would never have it.
[ He'd gone very quiet for that last bit, voice hollow with grief and regret and anger and more things that he can't even name. He pulls in a breath and lets it out. ]
Regardless, your family would - ah, I am supposed to warn you before I say something sentimental. [ He pauses briefly, to let that be the warning. ] Your family will not allow anyone to come against you.
no subject
[ There's warmth in his voice, mostly fondness, though he would be lying if he said there wasn't a hint of amused exasperation. Now that he has gotten to know both Wuxian and Wanyin better, it is easy to see how similar the brothers are when it comes to deflecting someone showing genuine care and concern for them - though one with humor, and the other with irritation.
Wuxian's questions leave him quiet for a long moment, trying to gather his thoughts. ]
It is not a satisfying answer, but I don't believe it was personal. I think you were... convenient. There was a gap in power, after Wen Ruohan was defeated, and I suspect Jin Guangshan would have done many things to ensure that he was the one to fill it. The rest of us were in such precarious positions after the war, and he made sure each of us stayed that way. Mingjue and myself through our sworn brotherhood with Jin Guangyao, among other things, and Wanyin through your sister's marriage and by driving a wedge between him and you. By rallying the other sects against you, and making you the next villain to be slain - and this time no one could say the Jin did not take an active role, that they did not suffer loss.
[ It is both strange and not, to be speaking so frankly with Wuxian about this. At the time, it had felt impossible to have such a talk about politics with him - now it feels impossible that he did not. But then, neither of them were the men they are now, back when the war was only just over. ]
I cannot be certain how much of it was A-Y- [ He falters, briefly, then continues. ] How much was Jin Guangyao's idea, and how much was his father's. I would like to believe that it was Jin Guangshan who turned his sights on you. That it was him who wanted Mingjue dead, because he was a threat to his power. But I know it was Jin Guangyao who decided to kill his brother and his father.
Perhaps I am still being foolish, believing that it was that Jin Guangyao chose his father over his sworn brothers, and did what he had to in order to earn his approval, only to be too far gone by the time he realized he would never have it.
[ He'd gone very quiet for that last bit, voice hollow with grief and regret and anger and more things that he can't even name. He pulls in a breath and lets it out. ]
Regardless, your family would - ah, I am supposed to warn you before I say something sentimental. [ He pauses briefly, to let that be the warning. ] Your family will not allow anyone to come against you.